Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With the conversation starting with her wearing little more than a blue negligee and matching thong, it wasn't long before Vahn had Maschenny lying on her stomach wearing nothing but the latter. This provided him a view that some in the Tower would have literally killed for, but, as it was something he had experienced numerous times due to the Law of Identity antics, Vahn was largely unfazed by the blue-haired beauty's lean yet shapely figure.Not content with simply remaining silent throughout the process, Maschenny, using her crossed arms as a pillow, decided to take advantage of the situation by making idle conversation, playfully kicking her legs as she asking things like, "So, have you and Yuri already had sex? I always imagined that girl going crazy and kidnapping a few young boys, but I guess her instincts as a member of the Ha Family won out."Without pausing his hands, Vahn's tone remained unperturbed as he relaxedly replied, "That mouth of yours is going to get you in a lot of trouble. There is a difference between being direct and being uncouth."Humming in response to Vahn's words, Maschenny seemed to consider them for a brief moment before ultimately shaking her head and saying, "If I thought it would help my chances, I wouldn't mind behaving like a proper Princess. Fortunately, you're the type of man who can enter a maiden's bedchamber without batting an eye. You also chose to compromise when you really didn't have to, so I'm pretty confident you won't harm me just because I said something that upset you."Considering Maschenny's reputation, Vahn wasn't too surprised by the boldness of her words. She was known to be quite clever when she needed to be, so, while her base nature was that of a battle maniac, she wasn't an idiot. This was one of the reasons he had avoided her prior to this, as, despite a number of noteworthy differences, she was a lot like Loki. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but, left unattended, it was only a matter of time before her nature incited chaos...Demonstrating this capacity, Maschenny turned her head slightly, a mischievous look in her electric blue eyes as she mused, "Given your attempt to divert the conversation, I take it the two of you did, actually, fuck? That brat really has all the luck. What is she, like, six-hundred-years-old? If the others find out, they're going to be super pissed. Do you have any idea how tough it is to be a Princess of Jahad when you can't even masturbate without having to worry about your adoptive father peeking in on you? It's even worse when we're prevented from fighting as we please. I mean, seriously, what point is there in becoming a Princess when everything you do is stringently scrutinized? Yuri has no idea how lucky she is to be a member of the Ha Family. Though, I guess I'm pretty fortunate myself considering my own father probably would have knocked me if I hadn't become a Princess~"Deadpanning in response to Maschenny's words, Vahn was seriously considering leaving the Familia Induction Ceremony half-finished. He had known for a while that she had no filter unless she was in a situation where she 'needed' to behave, but, with her chibi self being relatively quiet, Vahn hadn't expected the original to be so...chatty...Annoyed by Vahn's silence, Maschenny lightly furrowed her brows and scrunched her nose as she added, "Oh come on. Can't you take a joke? What happened to that intense and confident version of you from earlier? Don't suddenly turn into a herbivore on me. I'm still expecting you to eat me up at some point. I would be severely disappointed if you turned out to be the type of man who half-asses things."Raising his brow, Vahn was about to ask what made her think he was going to 'eat her up' when Maschenny adopted a predatory smile and asked, "What? You're not going to try and collect all the Princesses for yourself? I'm absolutely certain you're responsible for that blonde bimbo going crazy and stealing our panties. If I had to guess, it must be related to that Quest System you were talking about earlier, right? Why else would she do something so inexplicable after staying relatively silent all these years?"Though he had always known that Ureko's Quest would bring him future troubles, Vahn couldn't help releasing a sigh in response to Maschenny's words. Her statements, combined with the fact that Ureko had gifted him the panties with similar intentions, made it pretty clear that the general consensus among those in the know was that he was the 'mastermind' behind the entire fiasco. His most recent actions regarding the research team had likely reinforced this point of view, so, while it wasn't actually his intention, Vahn had a difficult time outright refuting such accusations. There was also the fact that, if it would help him prevent a tragedy and limit the amount of bloodshed, he was more than willing to employ such a method...Noticing the slight glimmer in Vahn's eyes, despite his pensive look, a taunting smile developed across Maschenny's face as she flexed her rather pert posterior and said, "I can't speak for all of us, but most of us wouldn't mind, you know? I mean, there are Princesses that have been around for more than six-thousand-years at this point. Do you have any idea how maddening it can be to be denied something that even the most base of peasants have relatively easy access to? Some might consider it an honor to be chosen as a bride candidate for the King, but we both know my adoptive father has never had the intention of marrying a single one of us..."With Maschenny wearing nothing but an electric-blue thong, flexing the muscles of her butt made it remarkably difficult to maintain focus on anything else. It didn't help that her aura had turned an almost sickly shade of pink, not because she had spontaneously fallen in love with him, but because her desire to have sex was almost overwhelming. It was akin to Eve's desire to sample the forbidden fruit of knowledge, an instinctual urge to experience something that had been denied to her for no better reason than someone else forbidding it...Finished with the application of his Familia Crest, Vahn retracted his hand from Maschenny exposed back, his expression a mask of calm as he explained, "I'm afraid you are mistaken. Though I possess the means, my relationship with Yuri hasn't developed to the point you are imagining. I didn't want her becoming overly attached to me, and, prior to our encounter on the 40th Floor, developing our relationship in any meaningful way would have unnecessarily complicated things during my ascent. I imagine our relationship will move forward by leaps and bounds in the near future, but, until then, I have no particular interest in developing my relationship with more problematic Princesses..."Having been at odds with Yuri for quite some time, Maschenny was genuinely surprised by Vahn's admission of innocence. If he had demonstrated even a fraction of the power he had displayed on the 40th Floor, it was difficult to imagine someone like Yuri simply letting him walk free. She might be a Princess of Jahad, but, unlike the majority of Princesses, she had never really taken her duties seriously. She also had the support of her Great-Great-Grandmother, the Leader of the Ha Family, so, hearing that nothing had happened between them, Maschenny couldn't help feeling genuinely astonished. Almost immediately thereafter, however, a competitive flame was lit in her heart as she instinctually licked her lips and replied, "I see..." in a contemplative tone.Even without the Law of Identity's narration, Vahn could easily imagine the thoughts dancing across Maschenny's mind. She was the type of woman that enjoyed standing above others and lording her accomplishments over those she didn't like. This just so happened to be anyone who was stronger or even marginally more 'fortunate' than her, so, with Yuri being one of the most fortunate among the Princesses, Maschenny had an almost instinctual desire to claim ground where her counterpart had 'failed'.Unfortunately, just as she was about to try her luck, Vahn threw a rather sizeable wrench into her plans by plainly stating, "Unlike you, my words are not spoken carelessly. I have no intention of becoming involved with any Princesses prior to fulfilling my promise with Yuri and reaching an accord with the Ha Family. Besides, while you might have sufficient reason to be confident in your appearance, your character leaves a lot to be desired. If you are to have any hope of fulfilling your ambitions, you will behave yourself until I have completed my objectives..."Having witnessed his power during their encounter on the 40th Floor, Maschenny knew it wouldn't be the wisest decision to overly antagonize Vahn. He had already demonstrated an inclination to act with prejudice whenever he was triggered, so, with his crest now inscribed on her back, she did her best to maintain her composure as she answered, "I understand. So long as you don't beat around the bush when the time comes, I'll do my best to 'behave' until then. Of course, a bit of an incentive would go a long way towards ensuring I'm on my best behavior..."Though he was tempted to point out that the Quest System should be more than enough incentive, Vahn understood that women weren't always rational creatures. The same argument could be made for men, but, due to his considerable exposure to the fairer sex, Vahn understood there were times when they needed something more 'meaningful' to help them stay the course. Some might mistake this as a matter related to emotions, but, from personal experience, Vahn had come to realize it was more so a matter of 'sincerity' and 'willful acquiescence' than anything else. This was especially true of prideful women, so, after a moment of consideration, Vahn nodded his head before rising to his feet and saying, "Very well then..."---Using a clean white towel to wipe away the excess oil from his hands, Vahn turned his back to the red-faced beauty, ignoring her unfocused gaze as he said, "Though it isn't all that important, try to keep matters related to the Quest System a secret. I don't really care if the Tower comes to know of my status as a God, but it will make things unnecessarily complicated if they start trying to impose their ideals and expectations on me. I have enough trouble with FUG, as is. I don't need a bunch of opportunistic assholes using my name and status as a justification to stir up trouble."Unable to respond in a more meaningful way, Maschenny just issued a nasally "Nn..." in response to Vahn's words before trying and failing to roll onto her back. Her muscles simply refused to obey her command, and, as a result of the echoing waves of pleasure, a soft moan emanated from her throat every time she tried to move. Fortunately, rather than simply ignoring her plight, Vahn at least had the decency to turn around and help her to roll over. This made it easier to breathe, and, though it exposed her breasts in their entirety, she actually considered this a win since Vahn's eyes had very briefly lingered on her pert, pale-pink, rosebuds...Managing a smile, Maschenny attempted to communicate with Vahn via her thoughts, but, with the Law of Identity traditionally disappearing whenever his attention was focused on other matters, her thoughts went entirely unheard. This left her feeling slightly pouty, as, immediately after helping her to roll over, Vahn covered her breasts with his towel and said, "I'll see you around. Try and stay out of trouble, okay?"With that said, Vahn placed a tea set and a few snacks on the nearby nightstand before promptly disappearing from Maschenny's room. This would have normally left the Princess feeling resentful, but, with persistent waves of pleasure washing over her body, it was difficult to stay mad. Instead, she began uncharacteristically lonely, her thoughts wandering far more than usual as the silence of the room gradually descended upon her...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Someone needs to wash this girl's mouth out with soap...','Get this woman a glass of water...!','Ah, yes, the existentialism that follows a first, second, and virtually all encounters with the Godhand...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After reaching his own quarters, Vahn promptly decided that his time on the 44th Floor was nearing its end. There had been more and more people arriving with the intent of seeking him out as of late, so, now that he had 'dealt' with Maschenny, the only real person of interest left was Pram. This, however, presented a number of unique issues, so, rather than overcomplicating things and causing trouble for himself, Vahn decided he would leave the woman with a message asserting they would meet again on the 50th Floor.Though he had no personal interest in the facility, the 50th Floor was home to one of the Lo Po Bia Family's fortresses, a multi-layered labyrinthine structure known as the Nest. As the name implied, the Nest's primary function was to serve as a breeding facility for Shinheuh. Its secondary purpose, however, was to serve as a 'cold storage' of sorts for various items that the Jahad Empire had either wanted to preserve or keep hidden. This included quite a number of dangerous artifacts, but, more importantly, it served as the sealing grounds for none other than Eurasia Enne Jahad.Having promised both Garam and Yuri that he would rescue the notorious 'Mad Princess', Vahn had little choice but to invade the Lo Po Bia Family's Nest in order to make good on his promise. Rather than relying on force to breach their walls, he was going to use the same method he had employed with the research team: diplomacy. The odds of this actually working were rather slim, but, with the Leader of the Lo Po Bia Family having taken an interest in both him and his Pokemon, Vahn wanted to at least try resolving things peacefully.To this end, there was still one place that Vahn 'needed' to visit prior to departing the 44th Floor. If he ignored her any longer, she might do something drastic to garner his attention, so, shortly after hacking Pram's Pocket to send his message, Vahn departed the Last Station, his destination one of the larger Suspend Ships that had been loitering a few hundred kilometers away. There, he waited patiently within the confines of a rather luxirious room until its owner, a disgruntled-looking woman with long black hair tied in a side-ponytail, inevitably entered.Surprising said person quite a bit, Vahn rolled to a seated position atop their bed before raising his hand in an overly casual manner and saying, "Yo. Long time no see, Princess."Realizing her eyes weren't playing tricks on her, the woman, none other than Ha Yuri, immediately balled her hand into a fist, her expression darkening as she walked forward and muttered, "I see...so you do remember me. Good...good...good...NOT! What the fuck took you so long you god-damned asshole!?"To punctuate her words, Yuri threw a rather fierce-looking right hook towards Vahn's smiling face. Fortunately, she hadn't actually infused any Shinsu into the attack, so, other than creating a loud 'pa' sound and generating a small shockwave, there were no other sequelae from the attack. This left Vahn feeling even more apologetic, as, despite her apparent fury, he could sense that Yuri was actually very worried about him.Grasping the wrist of the fist that was still buried in his face, Vahn pulled Yuri's hand into his own as he said, "Sorry...I won't make excuses. Just tell me what I need to do to make you smile...you know I hate seeing you upset..."Despite snorting through her nose and adopting a somewhat haughty expression, Yuri promptly sat down next to Vahn, her fingers linking with his as she leaned against his shoulder and said, "Just tell me what you've been doing these last couple of months aboard the Hell Train...depending on what you have to say, I'll decide whether or not to forgive you..."Though he felt as though he was being invited to navigate a mine field filled with nukes, Vahn did his best to recount things in a way that would satisfy Yuri's intrigue. Fortunately, he had access to Memory Projection Spheres, so, whenever he reached a point in the story that involved fighting, he could replay the memory at Yuri's request. This included the battle on the 40th Floor, and, though she had started off by demonstrating a considerable amount of concern for his wellbeing, Yuri was cackling like a hyena upon seeing him getting one-sidedly thrashed by the enraged Adori...As she had never been the type to waste time brooding over matters of the past, Yuri's mood had improved considerably by the time Vahn had finished his recounting of events. Unfortunately, just as he was thinking he was in the clear, she left him speechless by asking, "So, how many new girls have you slept with since our last meeting? I know about that so-called research team put together by that nerdy woman belonging to the Tu Perie Family. You fucked them, right?"Despite a friendly smile adorning her face, the glowing of Yuri's ruby-red eyes made it obvious she hadn't completely forgiven him. This had less to do with the past, however, and more to do with her womanly intuition giving her the impression he was keeping secrets. More specifically, there were a few things he had glossed over, and, while she generally wasn't one to pry, Yuri was disoncerted by the fact he felt the need to keep things from her.Though she would probably go with the flow if he decided to drop the matter, Vahn had never felt comfortable with lying, even to his enemies. Thus, after several seconds of tense silence, a tired sigh escaped his lips as he went on to recount his 'exploits' over the last three or so years. This included events that had taken place in Actualized Worlds, and, most recently, his encounter and subsequent interactions with Pram, the members of the research team, and Maschenny...Hearing Vahn list off more than twenty names, many of which she had never even heard of, Yuri's smile had gradually made way for a rather grim expression. Despite this, she wasn't actually all that upset by the amount. Rather, she was far more annoyed by the fact that she hadn't been included among them, and, more frustratingly, another member of her family had been among the members of the research team. This made it feel as though she had somehow lost against her own kin, and, should word spread within the family, her prestige and perceived status would take a considerable hit...Waiting until Vahn had finished telling his story, Yuri firmly squeezed his hand in a vice-like grip, her voice noticeably deeper as she said, "I thought I told you not to sleep with another member of my Family before we had a chance to seal the deal...do you not care about me at all?"Confused by Yuri's words, Vahn was momentarily at a loss until he realized the misunderstanding and promptly stated, "You're jumping to conclusions. I haven't slept with the members of the Ha, Eurasia, or Po Bidau Families....well, that isn't entirely accurate. I have slept with Ming-Ming, but we didn't have sex. She is more of a human-shaped hug pillow than a harem candidate..."Detecting no falsehoods in Vahn's words, a sigh of extreme relief escaped Yuri's throat as she softly uttered, "At least you have some sense remaining..."Smiling wryling in response to the black-haired woman's musings, Vahn was about to speak out in his defense when she suddenly turned to meet his gaze, her tone uncharacteristically serious as she said, "We're going to do it. Right here and now. I don't care if you want to keep climbing the Tower at your own pace. I refuse to continue waiting around like an idiot as girls you only recently met get added to your harem. At this rate, it is only a matter of time before another Princess sinks her teeth into you. If that happens before we're able to seal the deal, I might not be able to forgive you..."With Yuri still squeezing his hand like a vice, Vahn got the distinct impression she wasn't going to take no for an answer. Fortunately, he had prepared himself for this exact scenario before coming to meet her, so, after a brief yet tense period of silence, he manifested the Little Garden in his free hand, smiling as he said, "I would have to be the biggest fool in the entire Tower to refuse such an invitation..."Returning a smile of her own, the tense aura emanating from Yuri's body completely vanished as she cheekily mused, "Good answer. I was afraid I would need to take matters into my own hands if you continued playing games..."Though her words were spoken with a smile, the severity of Yuri's tone made it clear she wasn't joking around. This caused Vahn's smile to become somewhat wry, but, considering Yuri was both an Ancient Saiyan and a member of the Ha Family, he couldn't exactly blame her for being direct. If anything, he was to blame for forcing her to wait while numerous women, many of which he had far fewer affections for, beat her to the punch. With this in mind, he promptly pulled her into the Ninth Layer, not because they were going to fight, but because he was afraid of the destruction she might cause in an impassioned state...Recognizing her surroundings due to the concentration of Shinsu, a predatory smile developed across Yuri's face as remarked, "Good. At least this way, I won't have to hold anything back. Now, are you going to take off your pants or do I have to do it for you...?"Feeling as though things were starting to get out of hand, Vahn allowed a calming energy to flow through his aura as he approached Yuri and wrapped his arms around her body. This confused her at first, but, after a while, she eventually returned his embrace while muttering, "Sorry...I guess I got a little carried away...hahahaha..."Nodding his head in silent affirmation, Vahn loosened his hold on Yuri's body in order to plant a relatively tame but long-lasting kiss on her lips. Then, just as she had started to genuine relax, he allowed his hands to slowly descend her body until he had her remarkably pert and shapely glutes in his grasp. This caused a sensual chuckle to emit from her throat, and, as a result of her growing passions, the intensity of their kiss increased with the temperature of their bodies...Taking advantage of her growing distraction, Vahn released the clasp of Yuri's red skirt, the fabric falling to the ground and providing him better access to the shapely rump bound in silky smooth tights. In response, Yuri, either with the intent to emulate him or get straight to the point, fumbled at his belt for several seconds before simply tearing it away with her monstrous strength.Resisting the urge to laugh, Vahn manipulated the surroundings to give them a bit of privacy as he invested a startling 90,000,000OP into a brand new bed. Anything beneath S-Rank was bound to be destroyed, so, while it was remarkably expensive, it was a necessary expense in Vahn's opinion. Yuri might not have cared if he pushed her to the ground and took her by force, but, considering it was her first time, he wanted to be as gentle, loving, and methodical as possible. Unfortunately, just as he had pushed her onto the bed, two uninvited guests, appearing as golden and green-haired lolis, decided to make an appearance...Though he was originally intending to ignore them, Yuri quickly became aware of the duo, her face demonstrating a considerable amount of confusion as she asked, "Black March? Green April? What are you two doing here? Don't tell me you want to participate...muuuuuuu...you'll have to wait your turn!"Scoffing in response to Yuri's accusation, the Spirit of the Green April crossed her arms in a haughty manner as she said, "You really are a dumbass. Even if it were possible, do you really think I would choose this philandeering asshole as my partner? We came out here to prevent the two of you from doing something stupid. Isn't that...right...?"Directing her gaze towards the Black March, the Spirit of the Green April found her words trailing as she noticed the rather potent blush on the former's face. Then, contrasting everything she had said, the Spirit of the Black March floated closer to Vahn before whispering in a demure tone, "I wouldn't mind...it's been a while..." while nervously fidgeting about. This left the Spirit of the Green April at a complete loss, her small and dainty lips parting slightly as she failed to find words to describe her sister-sword's shamelessness...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Yo...!','Release your inner Ozaroo...!','Princess can't catch a break xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

As it would be problematic if he spent all his time within the Little Garden, Vahn would invariably emerge to check on things in the outside world. There, he would either idle about for a few hours or go and explore the facilities of the Last Station. This made it seem as though he only spent a few minutes within the Little Garden at any given time, when, in reality, several days might pass before his return. It all depended on which Layer he was in, and, most importantly, whether or not he was doing anything to further interfere with the flow of time.Releasing a long yawn, Vahn was largely unresponsive even after the Law of Identity snuck up and pounced on him from behind in the form of Pram. She was one of the people who Vahn had been keeping tabs on, not because he was particularly fond of her, but because she was beginning to try his patience.Despite her external fluffiness, Pram's character was pretty close to the opposite of what Fenrir and her pack would refer to as a 'good girl'. This partially the result of her predatory instincts, but, more so than anything else, her pride was the problem. She had taken exception to the fact that he had embarrassed her in public, but, rather than harboring any resentment towards him, the target of her ire was everyone else who had been present at the time. As for how she viewed him...well, there was a reason some referred to him as both the Godhand and the God of Petting. He was also extremely powerful, so, from the perspective of a species that revered personal strength, he was what many in the Lo Po Bia Family would consider an 'ideal mate'.Taking these things into consideration, the question then became whether or not Vahn was willing to overlook Pram's unrepentant nature and past actions in an effort to deter her from committing future atrocities. He was supremely confident in his ability to 'tame' her, but, in doing so, he would further strengthen the ties between himself and the Lo Po Bia Family. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but, considering they were the Family that required the most reform, long-term exposure to them all but necessitated the shedding of blood...Finished with her report regarding the thoughts and activities of Pram, the Law of Identity's height increased by nearly thirty centimeters, pale blue hair flowing from her scalp as she whispered into his ear, "It seems this one is beginning to grow a little frustrated by the fact you are continuing to ignore her..."Turning around, Vahn was nearly eye-level with the Law of Identity, as, along with possessing an hourglass figure, Maschenny was also 184cm tall. This placed her among the tallest of the current Princesses of Jahad, her only rivals being Yuri, 180cm, Hendo Lok Gladmerry Jahad, 182cm, and the tallest among all Princesses, a woman by the name of Hendo Lok Lotte, who, thanks to her rather unique heritage, stood a startling 200cm tall. As for the rest, they averaged between 169-174cm, the only notable exceptions being Repellista at 155cm, and, though she wasn't an official Princess, the adorable Anak at 154cm.Seeing the Law of Identity transform into each of the people he was thinking about, Vahn extended his hand to caress Anak's head as he asked, "How are the members of Team Wolf Pack these days?"A stark contrast to the actual Anak, the Law of Identity appeared extremely vivacious, her lizard-like tail wagging happily as she replied, "Things are going great~! They recently reached the 20th Floor and are currently taking a break in order to recuperate, resupply, and gather information. Though it seems this one is starting to feel envious of the relationship between Gandr and the other girls, she is actually pretty happy since her breasts and butt have started developing quite a bit as of late."With the Law of Identity doing her best to emulate Anak's expression, Vahn couldn't help issuing a light chuckle as he allowed his connection with Gandr to momentarily strengthen. This allowed him to recall the youthful-looking Vanargandr's experiences as if they were his own, and, though it was a little invasive, a first-hand account from one of his Templates was infinitely more reliable than the information provided by the Law of Identity...Obtaining a considerable number of memories pertaining to increasingly intimate massages, a second chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat as he withdrew his hand from the Law of Identity's head and had her turn back into Maschenny. Things seemed to be going remarkably well for the members of Team Wolf Pack, so, at least for the time being, he didn't need to worry about them.Understanding what Vahn was expecting from her, the Law of Identity wrapped her arms around his neck, an inherently seductive smile appearing on her face as she explained, "Right now, she has her people monitoring the members of the Snow Leopard Family. Though she is doing her best to keep her bad habits in check, she intends to put some pressure on the woman named Pram if you don't act before the end of the week. She is going to pretend to blackmail the fluffy one using a video of the previous incident on the platform. Her true intentions, however, are to bait the members of the Snow Leopard Family into attacking the members of her delegation. She is hoping you'll step in, but wouldn't mind if you decided not to..."With the Law of Identity's face drawing close enough that there was less than a centimeter between their lips, Vahn's expression became grim until she promptly transformed into Altria, her expression reminiscent of a smiling cat as she licked his lips and issued an adorable, "Nyaa~?"Since the actual Altria was a very taciturn and reserved woman, so much so that she rarely showed a change in expression, Vahn was momentarily caught off guard by the Law of Identity's actions. This seemed to be her intent, as, the moment his lips parted, she extended her tongue to intertwine with his. Had anyone been present to observe, this would have been a rather peculiar sight, as, not only was Vahn pushed back by an unseen force, most of his clothes had begun to peel away of their own accord...---With her frustrations growing by the day, Maschenny had been spending most of her time locked within her room. If she were to meet with people in her current state, there was a chance she might attack at the slightest provocation. To prevent this, she had been sleeping upwards of sixteen hours a day. This was the only way she could keep herself in check, as, whenever she was awake, thoughts of the progress others were making while she was largely neglected gave her an almost irresistible urge to cause trouble...Fortunately, just as Maschenny had begun absentmindedly plucking the feathers from her pillow, a subtle fluctuation in the surrounding space caught her attention. This caused her to feel a moment of panic, not because she was in her negligee, but because she had just been insulting Vahn rather profusely within her mind. The thought of him hearing these accusations was rather embarrassing, so, in an effort to divert his attention away from her secret slights, she filled her head with quite a number of rather lewd and licentious thoughts...Since he couldn't actually read her mind, Vahn was largely unaware of Maschenny's thoughts as he appeared a few meters from her bedside, grinning as he remarked, "Not bad. You're quite fond of the color blue, aren't you?"Following Vahn's gaze, a naturally seductive smile crept onto Maschenny's face as she pulled at the front of her negligee, exposing more of her cleavage as she replied, "You're not so bad yourself. Tell me, what thoughts crossed your mind when you decided to enter my chambers without requesting a formal meeting? I don't particularly mind, but it could cause quite a bit of trouble for both of us if you were discovered..."Ignoring the rather tantalizing sight, Vahn manifested a chair before taking a seat near the edge of the bed and stating, "I am aware of your efforts, but your nature makes it difficult for me to willfully associate with you. However, in the interest of preventing you from doing something irredeemably foolish, I've come here with the intent to compromise."Thinking Vahn was here to discuss the matter with Pram, Maschenny was about to assure him that she was primarily just playing around when he held up his hand, interrupting her and adding, "The conflict between you and the Lo Po Bia Family isn't my concern. I'm here to prevent you from going to the 20th Floor and causing trouble for the Regulars I had previously helped. I might have cut ties with them, but I would take it personally if you messed with them just to satisfy your intrigue and frustrations. To that end, I am here to tell you directly. If you mess with them, even through indirect means, I will kill you. There is no alternative outcome."With her smile fading away in an instant, an electrifying aura began to emanate from Maschenny's body. Before she could completely lose her cool, however, Vahn began releasing his own, his voice heavy yet calm as he said, "I won't tell you to calm down, but I would advise against lashing out. As I stated previously, I came here with the intent to compromise. Though I am more than capable of carrying out my promises, I am not here to force your compliance with threats..."Though it wasn't easy, Maschenny forced herself to gradually relax as she recalled that Vahn had, in fact, declared his intent to compromise. Since he should be well aware of her wants and desires, this suggested he had come with the aim of answering her questions, and, at least in part, providing her access to some of the things she had taken an interest in...Waiting until Maschenny had completely retracted her aura, Vahn allowed his own to dissipate as he produced a bottle of wine and two glasses. Eduan wasn't the only member of the Khun Family with a fondness for the liquid, so, before continuing, he filled glasses for himself and Maschenny before explaining, "Though it is possible, there is no merit in willfully removing the curse since the Empire has already issued a non-interference policy. I have no interest in starting a war. Instead, I will meet with Jahad once I have completed my ascent."Noticing the severe disappointment in Maschenny's expression and gaze, Vahn resisted the urge to shake his head in admonition, adding, "Worry not. Though it is impossible to incite me into causing the chaos you so desperately crave, I am more than capable of providing you with a suitable stage to perform. There are numerous people within the Aldrnari Empire capable of matching you, and, most importantly, there are a functionally infinite number of battlefields in the worlds 'beyond' the Tower awaiting your presence."Having dreamed of exploring the worlds beyond the Tower, a common trait among those near the pinnacle of existing hierarchies, Maschenny's intrigue was sufficiently agitated by Vahn's words. His mention of people capable of matching her was always rather noteworthy, but, more than anything else, she just wanted to be able to fight without the need for pretenses or restraint. Simply put, she was an incorrigible battle junkie, so, as long as someone could provide her with worthy opponents, Maschenny would willfully allow herself to be manipulated.Taking advantage of this, Vahn went on to provide a brief overview of his power and the benefits of receiving his blessing. The latter was something Maschenny was already familiar aware of thanks to the information provided by Repellista, so, with the research team also having been exposed, there was no real merit in keeping it a secret. Rather, by talking about the Quest System and his ability to make modifications to a person's body, race, and even inborn talents, he could pretty much ensure that Maschenny would want to experience it for herself. After all, she had already seen how strong Yuri had become after sprouting a tail, so, while she wasn't particularly interested in having one of her own, there was very little she wouldn't do in exchange for power and the chance to use it...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Law of Identity is rather feisty (O w O)...','This is an extreme degree of boredom...','Hook, line, and sinker xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1947: Pride, Prudence, and a Marginal Amount of Prejudice