Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

With Ureko suggesting they shelve their 'battle' until after he had resolved the deeper issues with his harem, Vahn had everyone, including those who had been away in Actualized Worlds, gather in the Emerald Grove.Though he had a functionally infinite amount of time to make a decision, Vahn wanted to hear what everyone else had to say before making his final judgment. Their happiness had always been one of his highest priorities, so, even if it meant letting them go, he was prepared to do whatever it took to ensure they were the happiest they could possibly be...---Doing everything in his power to suppress a tired sigh, Vahn forced himself to appear calm as he reiterated, "To summarize, there are three opportunities awaiting everyone once I reach the top of the Tower. The most notable of these is reincarnation into a higher realm with all of your memories, innates, and soulbound items intact. You will undoubtedly face many hardships along the way, but this is the route that will allow you to reach the pinnacle through your own efforts. Once I reach the Divine Realm, I will be able to look back on the path you have walked until its penultimate end, and, depending on the circumstances, I can either recall you to my side, pick you up before your journey even began, or allow you to live happily in the new life you have built for yourself..."Being one of the more intellectual among the group, Android 21, appearing just as disgruntled as a number of other people present, pointedly remarked, "I get what you're trying to say, but you seem to be skirting around a pretty serious problem. For those of us who choose to remain faithful, there is a very real chance we would have to spend an 'eternity' alone. You might be able to undo that by picking us up at an earlier point in time, but, statistically speaking, everyone here would eventually have a breakdown that compels them to seek companionship elsewhere. We might even be forced to endure millions of years of loneliness before finally seeking out and obtaining happiness...if that happens, will your guilt allow you to recall us to your side...?"As similar questions had come up during the initial group discussion, Vahn was beginning to feel a considerable amount of mental fatigue. Despite this, he managed to appear relatively calm on the surface, explaining, "There are rituals that can bind people together. If necessary, I am prepared to make a Template to accompany each and every one of you. For those of you who wish to face fate directly, however, know that I will only view your lives for a period of time equivalent to the amount it takes me to reach the Divine Realm. In other words, if it takes me ten-thousand-years to reach the Divine Realm, I will only view your reincarnation for the first ten-thousand-years of its existence. My decision to recall you will depend entirely on your actions and experiences in that span of time..."Though not everyone understood the implications of his words, the more 'resolute' among Vahn's women immediately perked up. One of the things that had always troubled them was the fact that he had a lot more time than them to become stronger. This made it impossible to match his pace, and, while this would always be an issue, they were confident they could reduce the distance with a comparable amount of time.Deciding to continue while the mood had marginally improved, Vahn went on to add, "The second option is to continue living within the Emerald Grove. Given enough time, I'm confident that I could connect both my Realm and the Actualized Worlds to the Little Garden. That will allow everyone the opportunity to freely explore, but, as a result of my nature, it is impossible for me to guarantee your independence. I can't help my overprotective nature. I've tried numerous compromises, but, so long as you are within my sphere of influence, I will do everything in my power to protect you...no matter what..."Hearing Vahn's words, helpless smiles appeared on the faces of virtually everyone present as Fenrir remarked, "Master has done nothing wrong. Though we come together, everyone here is ultimately responsible for their own happiness. Those who cannot find a pursuit worthy of their focus will only become a burden to everyone else. It is fine to desire a leisurely life where Master showers you with affection, but, if that is your only aspiration, you have no right to lament when he is busy with other things. You cannot wholly entrust your happiness to another. If you are unwilling to accept personal responsibility for your own life, you are poorly equipped to deal with eternity. Master exists to make everyone happy. He does not exist to make 'you' happy."Though her words were more than a little 'biting', most of Fenrir's pack immediately nodded their heads in affirmation. They had learned the importance of self-improvement, and, while they would do everything in their power to support their Master, their primary focus was mastering themselves. It was impossible to know what the future held, so, more than anything else, they did everything in their power to enjoy life while subsequently preparing for anything it might throw their way...With Fenrir sitting to his left, Vahn couldn't restrain the urge to extend his hand, roughly caressing her head as he said, "Thanks, but, even if I'm doing everything I can, it's still my fault when people aren't happy. If I didn't have my fair share of flaws, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. With that in mind, allow me to surmise the third option. Keep in mind that there are actually a functionally infinite number of alternative choices you can make, but, for the sake of simplicity, this is the baseline everyone has to choose from..."Inhaling a deep breath, Vahn briefly closed his eyes, his perception momentarily lingering on the auras of everyone present before explaining, "The third option is personal resolution. I will seal the Little Garden and begin treating the 'outside' in a manner similar to an Actualized World. I will focus all of my efforts on attaining Tier 7, and, as much as possible, I will avoid entering sub-dimensional realms without a specific goal in mind. Simply put, I will put everything in stasis until these types of issues are no longer a problem..."Though the first two options were far from ideal, the one Vahn feared most was the third option. In many ways, it was a direct parallel to what he considered to be his life's greatest mistake. The only difference was, if he really needed to, he could effectively end the stasis whenever he wanted. Either way, it was an extremely selfish decision to make, as, regardless of his level of conviction, he would eventually encounter something or 'someone' that slowed his progress. He would basically be living the life of a 'main character', and, as a result of his nature, he was bound to meet countless beauties on his way to becoming a Tier 7 entity...Even if he became liberal with his Templates, Vahn knew it was impossible for him to ignore people with powerful fates. He was also exceptionally weak against women with tragic backgrounds, so, as his power and karma increased, fate would invariably draw tragic heroines his way. Even the Divine Realm wasn't free from tragedy, so, until he reached Tier 7, his harem would likely continue growing without limit...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn passed his gaze over everyone present, guilt swelling within his heart until he noticed Nobunaga rolling her crimson eyes. Then, drawing everyone's attention to herself, she rose to her feet and declared, "This forum is pointless. We followed you here in order to help you, not hold you back. Stop using us as an excuse to delay your progress. You're the only one with the ability to elevate yourself to Tier 7. If we're in your way, send us back to the Realm or order us to reincarnate. There is no need for you to be pussyfooting around like this. If we can't tolerate a few thousand years in another world, how can we expect to live for eternity in another?"To punctuate her words, Nobunaga made of show of stretching her body and releasing a prolonged yawn before turning towards the exit and adding, "Well, let me know when you make a decision. I'm gonna grab something to drink. Feel free to join me once you're finished here."With that said, Nobunaga departed the room without looking back. She had never been the type to care about the complexities of a situation. If Vahn didn't need her help, she wasn't going to impose upon him. She was pretty content with drinking alcohol, bonding with other members of the harem, and exploring the ever-changing Layers of the Little Garden, so, while she had noticed a number of issues as of late, they didn't really bother her. Rather, much like Ureko, she was more frustrated with the girls whose 'weakness' distracted Vahn and introduced pointless drama into an otherwise idyllic situation.Though he wasn't particularly surprised by Nobunaga's departure, Vahn couldn't help adopting a wry smile as he watched more than half the congregation follow suit. In the end, the only people remaining were those with positions of authority, and, as could be expected, those who had only recently joined his harem. They were the ones with the most concerns about the future, as, unlike the girls who had originated from his Realm, they still had uncertainties regarding his status, and, more importantly, their 'place' in everything...Passing his gaze over everyone that remained, including girls like Ureko and Yuri, Vahn regained a serious disposition as he advised, "There is no need to feel pressured. As I stated previously, there are actually countless options available to you. Regardless of what you choose, know that I will do my best to support you. Also, no matter what...please, never consider yourself a burden...that kind of mentality, more than anything else, is the greatest source of my stress. There has never been, nor will there ever be, a need for you to prove yourselves worthy of my love and affection..."Though his words were intended for everyone, Vahn spoke the final few while looking directly at Ureko. He knew she wanted to say something now that the more resolute women had departed, so, before she could say anything hurtful, he wanted to put his foot down.Snorting in response to Vahn's pointed look, Ureko ultimately just shrugged her shoulders before spontaneously leaning back and pretending to take a nap. This garnered her a considerable amount of attention, but, before anyone could comment on her behavior, Vahn guided the conversation in the direction of addressing everyone's concerns. He knew they had a lot of questions, so, now that he had put everything on the table, he wanted to do everything in his power to allay their concerns. The decision they made now would shape how they spent the next several thousand years, so, while it ultimately extended the conversation by seventeen hours, he believed it was important they had a proper understanding of what they might be getting themselves into...---(A/N: Though I'm still intending to have a climactic battle between Vahn/Ureko/Artoria/etc, the last few days have given me a considerable amount of time to think about how the novel has evolved over the years. We've come a long way, but, at the same time, some of the best parts of EPIC have been lost along the way. To that end, I've decided to breathe some life into the story by defaulting to one of the things I believe allowed EPIC to stand out in its inception. I want the readers to have more of a say in the story, so, with that in mind, the options presented in this chapter are, not just the characters', but your's to consider. Let me know what you think in the comments section. I will literally be reading every comment from now until we are preparing to exit the Tower~)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though he understood it was necessary, Vahn emerged from the twenty-hour-long discussion feeling more than a little fatigue. Unfortunately, there were still other matters to address, so, after releasing everyone else, he, accompanied by Artoria and Fenrir, teleported to one of the more isolated regions of the former Eighth, now Ninth, Layer. There, built into a mountain that glistened like gold under the artificial sun, a large Victorian-style castle could be seen peeking through the sparse cloud coverage. This was the primary residence of Eva, who, despite having grown closer to quite a few members of his harem, generally kept to herself.Under normal circumstances, Vahn would have teleported directly into the castle's interior. This time, however, his trepidation forced him to teleport near the base of the mountain. Eva was one of the only women he had ever proactively sought out, so, despite her understanding, he couldn't help feeling considerable guilt whenever he thought about how his actions might affect her...Noticing her Master's plight, Fenrir decided to lend him a bit of support, but, before she could close the distance, Vahn gently shook his head, a scant smile on his face as he softly muttered, "I'm fine. I was just thinking that I might have done things out of order..."Though he hadn't mentioned it during the seventeen-hour post-discussion, the notion that he had broached the subject too early had invariably crossed Vahn's mind. Unless he drastically sped up his climb, there were still months, if not years, until his departure from the Tower. To that end, it might have been better for him to discuss things with his wives. Instead, as was often the case whenever he felt pressured, he ended up trying to resolve everything as quickly and 'efficiently' as possible.From an objective point of view, the desire to treat everyone fairly wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but, considering how important certain women were to him, Vahn couldn't shake the feeling he had erred by not discussing it with them first. With the exception of his children, they were supposed to be the most important people in the world to him, yet, undoubtedly as a result of him accumulating countless experiences, they were gradually becoming just another part of his harem...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn could feel every muscle in his body begin to tense. At the same time, the faces of nearly two-hundred women crossed his mind, accompanied by the voice of Loki teasingly remarking, "It's okay to love freely. So long as you don't regard women as playthings meant to entertain you, you'll never become a beast like Zeus. Don't worry. You're still young. Even if you make a few mistakes along the way, you'll always have us. Never forget that..."Surprised by the sudden recollection, Vahn's eyes widened as he internally remarked, ("Talk about ideal timing...you really know how to catch me off guard, don't you?")Giggling in response to Vahn's words, Sis simply advised, (*Eva is waiting for you.*) before promptly returning to the deepest recesses of his mind. This left Vahn feeling a little helpless, but, rather than pressing her for an explanation, he just shook his head, a wry smile developing across his face as he promptly teleported into the interior of the castle. There, seated upon an ornate throne that was far too large for a normal person, a mature version of Eva could be seen caressing an abyssal black cat with peculiar wing-like markings around its shoulders.Though she had sensed his arrival near the base of the mountain, Eva was still a little surprised by Vahn's sudden appearance. He had become ridiculously adept at teleporting, so, despite appearing calm on the surface, she couldn't prevent her pupils from contracting ever so slightly as she mused, "It seems you have become even more skilled..." before following it with, "So? What did you do this time~?"With a tired sigh escaping his throat, Vahn made his way over to Eva's side, answering, "I need your advice..." before sitting next to her and extricating the black cat from her lap. This earned him a hiss, but, despite her protest, the cat made no effort to escape his grasp. Instead, she simply curled up in his, accepting her fate as Artoria and Fenrir settled in around them. Then, for the better part of two hours, Vahn explained everything that had transpired during the relatively short period of time they had been apart...As a master over time and space, second only to Vahn himself, Eva generally manipulated the flow of time around her castle to be much slower than normal. There were a number of reasons for this, but, more than anything else, she simply didn't like waiting around for his return. She was actually one of the 'clingier' girls in his harem, so, when she wasn't busy with her research, most of her time was spent lazing about, drinking tea, reading manga, and watching anime.Though 'normal' people might consider this a waste of time, there was a reason that even Da Vinci referenced fiction for inspiration. There were no limits to the ways in which the Laws could manifest, so, as a Tier 5 being, Eva could actually become stronger by taking an interest in another world. She could also request that he purchase various texts, skill books, scrolls, and even grimoires, so, while it might appear as though she had become a hikikomori, the truth of the matter was that Eva was still the most powerful Magus among the Little Garden's residents. Even Index couldn't compare, as, the moment she learned of the former's 103,000 magical grimoires, Eva committed the vast majority to memory.Simply put, Eva was one of the strongest residents of the Little Garden, and, so long as she didn't encounter someone with anti-magic properties, there were few opponents who could hope to get anywhere near her. She had even been researching fate and probability in order to circumvent the Omnipotence Paradox. If she succeeded, she would literally be able to defeat virtually any opponent by simply having them acknowledge the possibility of their defeat. Inversely, she could resurrect the dead by denying they had ever died, and, in the most extreme cases, she could even reshape events in history to correspond with her personal account...---Demonstrating why he should have conferred with her beforehand, Eva responded to Vahn's long explanation by asking, "Are you an idiot?" with an incredulous look on her face. Fortunately, before he could embarrass himself by asking her to explain, she went on to add, "Don't get me wrong. The options you presented to everyone aren't the problem. The bigger issue is that you are ignoring the present, the very thing you are constantly advising everyone else to take into consideration..."Seeing the confusion in Vahn's eyes, an exhausted sigh escaped Eva's throat as she shook her head and explained, "You have convinced yourself that it is okay for everyone to reincarnate and live out their lives, wholly outside of your control. However, due to the nature of time, that isn't actually the case. The moment you reach the Divine Realm, you have the ability to rewrite history and undo any tragic events they might have experienced. Do you not see how that makes your overprotectiveness kind of pointless...?"Understanding what Eva was trying to say, a conflicted look spread across Vahn's face as he asked, "So you're saying I should open the Little Garden and allow everyone to move freely, consequences be damned...?"Rolling her eyes, Eva leaned against Vahn's shoulder before answering, "Isn't that what you decided for yourself near the beginning of your journey in this Record? You accepted that you were going to make mistakes and decided it would be best to learn from them. Providing people the opportunity to reincarnate isn't all that different than allowing them to make their own decisions. Since that has always been important to you, why not implement it in the present? If you move forward with your intention of turning the Little Garden into a 'central hub', you could turn the Aldrnari Empire into an organization that enacts change in countless worlds. You could have people accept Quests, traverse different worlds, and, even if they die, you could always revive them at a later date. We know, better than most, that death isn't the end. The fact you stress out over it so much has always baffled me..."Unable to refute the woman's words, Vahn found himself staring off into space, countless thoughts racing across his mind. This wasn't actually his first time considering these things, but, as was often the case, it was a lot easier to rationalize the cyclic nature of life than it was to accept the possibility of your loved ones dying...Deciding to make things simpler for him, Eva poked her nail into Vahn's chest, forcing his attention back to her as she whispered, "The fact you mentioned there is an unlimited number of alternative solutions shows that you have accounted for the fact that each person had their own unique wants and needs. With that in mind, wouldn't it be better to create an environment that enables everyone to pursue their own version of happiness? Hell, even a Phantasmagoria with one of your Templates would be better than the other options you came up with...at least that way, you don't risk undoing an entire timeline just to extract a single person..."Hearing Eva provide a 'solution' that wasn't all that dissimilar to the one envisioned by the Mage of the Beginning, Vahn found himself staring into the golden-haired beauty's pristine blue eyes with a slack-jawed expression on his face. This earned him another eye roll, but, instead of looking away or returning her head to his shoulder, Eva tugged his collar, surprising him with a kiss before adding, "I don't recall marrying a coward. We have a literal eternity to figure things out. Besides, how can you expect to reach Tier 7 with this half-hearted behavior? Man up, brat..."Punctuating her words, Eva sealed Vahn's response with another kiss, this time holding it for the better part of a minute. Then, just as she was about to separate their lips, she gave the black cat nestled in his lap a not-so-gentle poke, forcing her to revert to her human form before promptly pulling away and saying, "I need to talk with Artoria and Fenrir in private. Karin, keep this idiot of mine busy, will you?"Though she couldn't help but adopt a pout, Karin showed no real aversion to the suggestion, her cat-like ears twitching as she half-turned, saying, "Yes, Eva-sama..." before overlapping her lips with Vahn's. Then, once everyone had made room, she turned the rest of her naked body, straddling his hips and wrapping her arms around his neck. This left Vahn feeling a little helpless, but, rather than resisting, he habitually grabbed Karin's toned butt, gently massaging near the base of her tail as his clothes dissolved away...---Raising a soundproof barrier to block the mewling sound echoing through her castle, Eva released a tired sigh as she looked at Artoria and Fenrir, "So? What do the two of you think? As far as I can tell, he seems pretty stable. Should we push him a little?"Since she generally went with whatever Vahn had decided, Artoria's response to Eva's words was to shift her attention to Fenrir. In response, the latter nodded her head, a confident look in her eyes as she said, "I think it's okay. Though he feels guilty about it, Master has become a lot more stable due to the time he has spent in other worlds. So long as someone he trusts sets the precedent, I believe he will be okay. If anything happens, I will do my best to deal with the aftermath."Not doubting Fenrir's words in the slightest, Eva reacted with a curt nod of her own before crossing her arms and saying, "The question then becomes...who should be the one to move forward? I don't mean to brag, but I doubt he would be willing to accept if it was me..."Snorting through her nose, Fenrir emulated Eva's action of crossing her arms, an amused smile developing across her face as she teasingly remarked, "Who are you trying to fool? I'm not going to refute your words, but we all the truth. I bet you couldn't even go a full week before you go looking for Master. Even after everything that has happened, you are completely smitten with him."Glaring back at Fenrir, Eva was tempted to argue, but, feeling a potent heat spreading through her cheeks, she knew anything she might possibly say could be used against her. She also couldn't use magic to try and punish Fenrir, as, despite being a 'mere' Tier 3, the latter's magical resistances were on another level. In fact, unless it was powered by Laws she didn't recognize, most magic no longer worked against her as she could simply 'devour' anything arbitrarily thrown her way...Deciding to interpose before a fight could break out, Artoria coughed a few times to draw the duo's attention before saying, "This isn't a matter we can settle between the three of us. After I leave here, I will spread the word about an emergency council meeting. Unless something drastic happens, we will reconvene hereabout after the usual morning routine. I trust that will not be an issue?"Understanding the importance of resolving this matter before anything else happens, Eva ultimately nodded her head in affirmation, saying, "Just make sure to bring Rindo along. It's been a while since I've tasted her food and everyone is more agreeable on a full stomach."With no reason to refuse, Artoria nodded in affirmation, but, before she could even suggest leaving, Eva interrupted, questioning, "Speaking of which, when was the last time the three of us took a bath together? Karin won't be able to last very long without assistance. How about we freshen up before providing her some relief? You might be able to fool others, but I can see how tense you are."Shaking her head, Arotira explained, "There is a chance that Vahn will be fighting with Ureko before tomorrow's meeting. It's a little frustrating, but I will persevere until things have been settled. Thank you for your consideration."Hearing Artoria reference the situation with Ureko, Eva couldn't resist the urge the roll her eyes. She knew it was a matter related to the instincts of dragons, but, with several viable solutions coming to mind, she felt the entire situation was a farce. Vahn had countless methods to suppress something as base as instinct, but, as was often the case when it concerned the sovereignty of other people, he was extremely apprehensive about violating nature and free will. This wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but, more often than not, it introduced unnecessary drama into all of their lives...(A/N: Sorry for the super delayed chapter release. After reading everyone's comments, I spent a bit of time plotting out a more 'ideal' direction for the story. As many pointed out, a mix of numerous options was ideal, and, while this was always my intention, it felt like I missed the ball in regards to the characters' personal motivations. I hope this chapter helped to clarify a few things, even if just a little xD...)https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though it hadn't been long since Wolhaiksong's transition into the Little Garden, it wasn't exactly the type of incident that would simply pass under the radar. A lot of people kept a close watch on the organization and its activities, so, shortly following the disappearance of the floor-sized forest, senior officials from the Ministries of Wisdom, Defense, Finance, and Faith had gathered to discuss the fate of the Empire.Gathered alongside the officials, massive humanoid heads that defied the laws of gravity, were the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 6th Commanders of the Jahad Army. This included Adori, acting as Commander-in-Chief, Senna, her Chief Advisor, Arie Andrika, Commander of the 'Dauntless Assault Force', and, most notably, a youthful-looking girl named Eurasia Lem, Commander of the 'Emergency Support Division'.As was often the case in such situations, a man consisting of nothing but a giant head, pointed ears, and detached hands was the first to speak, bellowing, "This is clearly the prelude to a rebellion! We should have eliminated that man the moment he appeared! Who is going to take responsibility for this!?"With a size exceeding 10m, a horned golden helm reminiscent of a Chinese general, and white eyes surrounded by blood-red sclera, the 'man', Ke-sa the Furious, created quite the imposing figure. He was also the Minister of National Defense, so, while everyone else was relatively calm, recent events in the Tower had resulted in him becoming increasingly stressed.Answering Ke-sa's outburst, another giant head, this one appearing as a green-skinned man with four detached hands, large ears, and a monkey-like tail protruding from where his neck should be, plainly remarked, "Standing before you is your Commander in Chief and the most senior member of the Jahad Princesses. If you cannot manage your temper, I will have to ask that you remove yourself from this chamber."Using one of his detached hands to push up his rather archaic-looking bifocals, the green-skinned man, better known as Arvin Lou, Chairperson of the Office of Wisdom, made it very clear he would not tolerate such behavior. This earned him a fierce glare from the grey-skinned Ke-Sa, who, under normal circumstances, wouldn't hesitate to give Arvin Lou a piece of his mind. Adori was his direct superior, however, so, as the official representing military law and order, he couldn't simply ignore it in her presence.Observing the interaction between the two, Adori had to briefly close her eyes, suppressing a sigh as she attempted to organize her thoughts. Fortunately, even without her needing to inquire, Senna took the initiative to say, "I don't believe this is a bad thing."Opening her eyes, Adori shifted her gaze to Senna, silently prompting the woman to explain, "Vahn, the Sage Dragon Emperor, has demonstrated a penchant for personally resolving matters beyond a certain threshold of importance. Though he has allowed some of his family members to explore the Tower, they generally operate under a very strict set of guidelines. I don't believe, not for a moment, that he would mobilize the forces of Wolhaiksong against the Empire. Rather, given his behavior till now, it is safe to assume that Wolhaiksong is now out of the picture. Their principal goal had always been 'leaving' the Tower, not conquering it. I imagine the leadership of Wolhaiksong petitioned him for assistance, so, unless something unexpected occurs, they will likely remain there until Vahn has departed the Tower."Having witnessed Vahn's 'wrath' after her forces had unnecessarily eliminated a group of Regulars, Adori had little trouble believing in Senna's words. Vahn was capable of incredible destruction, yes, but, unless he had chanced upon circumstances he vehemently disagreed with, he generally did his best to avoid injuring innocents and causing collateral damage.Nodding her head, Adori passed her gaze over everyone present before saying, "Unless my father issues an Imperial Mandate, we will continue to act as we have been. Though they are undoubtedly troublesome, the Aldrnari Empire is not a direct threat to the Jahad Empire. So long as we continue working on reforms, there is a very real chance that the Sage Dragon Emperor will simply ignore us on his way to the top. Everything that has occurred thus far can be said to be a direct consequence of our mismanagement..."Though she didn't appreciate how Vahn had brought chaos to the Empire, she knew he couldn't be held solely accountable. Everything he had done thus far was in direct response to deeply rooted issues that had plagued the Empire for generations. Had he been a part of the Jahad Family or the Royal Enforcement Division, most of his actions would actually merit some kind of reward. The only reason his behavior was even considered a 'problem' was because it was a direct slap in the face to the Jahad Empire, the Ten Great Families, and the parties responsible for the Tower's administration.Suppressing another sigh, Adori was about to dismiss everyone when the only 'female' among the giant heads, a pink-skinned entity named Valua Gale, stated, "The disappearance of Wolhaiksong is bound to shake the people's faith. Even if the Sage Dragon Emperor isn't likely to employ them, the fact he has accepted them is a problem in and of itself. It artificially inflates him to a position above the Ranking members of Wolhaiksong, and, most importantly, diminishes the influence of the King. If rumors regarding his ability to depart the Tower begin to circulate, millions, if not more, will begin flocking to him. Even if he doesn't lead an open revolution, the integrity-"Unable to suppress it any longer, an exasperated sigh escaped Adori's throat, disrupting the long-winded Valua before she could offer any substantive advice. Then, in a tone that caused even Lem to open her eyes, she plainly stated, "Let them go. The Empire was founded with the intention of preserving peace within the Tower. We have never told the people in the Outer Tower how to live, and, so long as they didn't violate the law, we have always supported the independence of people living within the Inner and Middle Towers. Even if hundreds-of-billions of people left, there would still be hundreds-of-billions more remaining in the Tower. Rather than worrying about those that wish to depart, our priority should be ensuring peace and stability for those who remain."Taken aback by Adori's words, Valua wanted to gently chastise the Princess, but, before she could speak, Senna chimed in to say, "The Princess is correct. The Wall of Peaceful Coexistence is the best example of this sentiment. Just because it has degraded over the years, that isn't a reason to throw away our ideals. Rather, it's decline should offend us. They were intended to serve as monuments to the Empire's foundational principles, yet, as if to reflect the actual state of our administration, they have fallen into ruin. Speaking of conservative values and faith when we have failed to pay homage to the very beliefs upon which our nation was founded is rather short-sighted, don't you think?"Glaring back at Senna, the pitch of Valua's voice increased drastically as she shouted, "Lady Senna! Such words border on sacrilegious! Administration of the Walls of Peaceful Coexistence was left to the families of the Kingdoms spared as a result of our King's mercy! We cannot be held responsible for their failures! In fact, they should be punished for failing to appreciate the King's magnanimity!"Staring at Valua as if she was the dumbest person she had ever met, Senna's expression bordered on a deadpan as she stated, "The first walls to fall were those under the direct management of the Empire. You're also arguing that we can't be held responsible for the actions of others while trying to make a point about how the Empire should prevent people from disassociating themselves with our policies. We either have a responsibility to govern and preserve our ideals or we don't. You can't hold others accountable while denying personal responsibility in regard to your own policies. Those at the highest level of government are supposed to be the 'most' accountable for their actions..."With the color of her skin transitioning from pale-pink to a deep shade of red, Valua looked like she wanted nothing more than to devour Senna on the spot. Unfortunately, the latter was exponentially more powerful than she was, and, despite her status within the Ministry of Faith, her authority was a far cry from Senna's. Not only was she the direct descendant of Ari Han, the most politically inclined of the Great Warriors, she was also the most beloved sister of Ari Chun, one of the Three Lords who ruled the Tower in Jahad's stead...Furrowing her brows ever so slightly in response to Valua's behavior, Adori made a mental note to file an official complaint as she outwardly expressed, "We will discuss this matter in greater detail at the upcoming Ruler's Conference. In accordance with my father's previous decree, our official policy regarding the Sage Dragon Emperor is non-interference. If you are discovered violating this decree, I will have no choice but to act in my capacity as the Sword of the Empire. Understood?"Though Senna was a monster in her own right, the power possessed by Adori was, simply put, in a league of its own. As a result, Valua couldn't help paling in response to Adori's words, a fresh layer of sweat covering her inordinately large head as she nervously replied, "I...I understand. I will store the Princesses' words in my heart and do everything in my power to guarantee the integrity of the King's decree..."Offering a curt nod in response, Adori promptly turned on her heels, habitually flaring her cape as she added, "We are finished here. Convey my words to the Floor Rulers and make sure everyone is continuing to audit their respective departments. Unless there are extenuating circumstances, the Imperial Army will not come to the aid of anyone who has provoked the anger of the Sage Dragon Emperor. If they are smart, they will turn themselves in and make an earnest effort to repent. If such recourse is beyond them, they only have themselves to blame for what is to come..."Without looking back to confirm that her words were regarded with the severity they warranted, Adori promptly departed with Senna, Andrika, and Lem following close behind. This left only the four giant heads remaining in the inordinately large judicial chamber, two appearing weary, one a caricature of fury, and the other appearing just as pale as she had under Adori's steely gaze...---Shortly following Adori's departure, details pertaining to the relatively brief discussion were quickly spread through various information channels. This included networks directly affiliated with each of the Great Families, and, as a result, it wasn't long before Yeon Ilarde, self-proclaimed Godmother of the Yeon Family, received the news. Immediately thereafter, a vase worth more than a floating castle was sent hurtling across the room, violently smashing against a wall comprised almost entirely of an inordinately rare red marble, highly polished gold, and various other valuable materials.Seeing their Godmother behave in such a way, the group responsible for reporting to her couldn't help freezing up. Fortunately, almost immediately after smashing the vase, Ilarde, a breathtakingly beautiful woman with raven-black hair, fair skin, and ruby-red eyes appeared to regain her senses. There was even a hint of red in her cheeks as she turned to the group of doll-like women observing her from the side, saying, "I have shamed myself in front of you. Please, do not speak of this in front of your sisters..."Without any hesitation whatsoever, each of the girls standing across from Ilarde bowed their heads, haughty yet reverential looks on their faces as the most senior among them chimed, "The greatness of the Godmother cannot be tarnished so easily. Regardless, it is our greatest honor to help protect the dignity of the Yeon Family and its most illustrious member."Hearing her daughter's words, Ilarde used a phoenix-inspired fan to veil the smile that had spread across her face. The only thing she enjoyed more than hearing praise regarding her greatness was tormenting the vile and despicable men who thought themselves worthy of her favor. Thus, while it was difficult to suppress her anger, she eventually managed to compose a mask of indifference as she said, "That woman's incompetence knows no limits. I can't even begin to fathom what our King was thinking when he put her in charge of the military..."Though her words might have caused a scene elsewhere, Ilarde was able to speak freely in front of the members of her own family. Rather, whenever they heard her speaking casually about Jahad, the respect and adulation of those closest to her only seemed to increase. They genuinely believed she was the contemporary of Jahad and the Great Warriors, and, were it not for a promise she had made with her sister, Hana's mother, she would have been much more than the de facto leader of the Yeon Family.Noticing the looks she was receiving, Ilarde fought hard against the urge to smile, forcing herself to appear cold and detached as she ordered, "Send a message to Hana. I have other matters to attend at the present moment, but, once I'm finished, I will be heading there to meet her. Have her washed and ready within the hour. And don't forget to treat her with the utmost respect. If I find out any of you have said or done anything hurtful to my beloved niece, expect a severe punishment..."Bowing even lower than before, Ilarde's daughters responded in the affirmative before half of them promptly broke off to carry out her orders. As for the rest, they followed after their mother, eager to make themselves available if she required their assistance. Filial piety was one of the basic principles of the Yeon Family, so, no matter what demands their mother asked of them, it was their 'honor' to oblige...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'TL:DR: Don't fuck with Vahn','Valua just got gaslit xD...','Ah, the wonders of fundamentalism~')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1979: Putting it all on the Table