Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Retracting his horns, wings, and tail, more for the benefit of Sarina and Nono than anything else, Vahn's expression relaxed as he mused, "I was wondering when you were going to show up. Have you been enjoying the show...?"Seemingly amused by Vahn's words, Shiroyasha snickered mischievously before remarking, "It seems the Little Garden has another Problem Child in its midst. You know, for someone with the power to resolve this matter simply, you sure do have a way of escalating things."Shaking his head, Vahn adopted a helpless expression as he said, "I'm doing my best to hold back, but people like this just grate on me like no other. Not only did they target one of my people, but I'm basically a Guardian God of Children. How could I overlook something like this...?"Having seen the outcome of Vahn 'not' holding back, Shiroyasha knew he was telling the truth. His power didn't seem to be restricted in the same manner as the average resident of the Little Garden. If he really went all out, he could probably destroy tens of thousands of 7-Digit Communities before anyone could even think to stop him.Not really having an answer to Vahn's question, Shiroyasha shifted her attention to the members of Silver Adonis before looking at Dorothea and stating, "Return to your Community. I'll handle things from this moment onward. Also, try not to take this matter to heart. Twice Twilight's handling of this situation wasn't exactly wrong. You just got wrapped up in something a little above your paygrade."Since Floor Masters had the highest authority when it came to settling disputes and overseeing Gift Games, Dorothea didn't attempt to argue. Rather, after witnessing Vahn sprout horns, wings, and a tail, there were few things she wanted more than to disentangle herself from the current situation.Bowing politely but not subserviently, Dorothea demonstrated considerable relief in her expression and posture as she said, "Thank you for interceding in this matter. I'm certain that Shiroyasha-sama will be able to uphold justice. Allow me to express my gratitude on behalf of my entire Community."Waving her hand in a shooing gesture, Shiroyasha responded, "Yeah, yeah. Just get going." before returning her golden-eyed gaze to the members of Silver Adonis and asking, "Tell me, do you still wish to participate in this Gift Game?"Understanding this might be their only option for clemency, Justinian immediately dropped to his knees, expression paling as he lowered his head and said, "I have seen the error of my ways. Please forgive my transgressions. I swear on my pride as a descendent of Adonis. Nothing like this will ever happen again..."Rolling her eyes, Shiroyasha shifted her attention to Vahn, asking, "You hear that? Now that he has sworn on the name of his ancestor, he'll be flagged by the Central Network if he breaks his promise. You can also have him sign a Geass Contract. I wouldn't mind seeing a show, but are you sure this is the best course of action? Have you asked the little ones for their opinion on the matter~?"Though he furrowed his brows ever so slightly, Vahn's expression returned to normal by the time he looked back at Sarina and Nono. Both appeared more than a little nervous. Nono, however, seemed genuinely horrified by how things were developing. She didn't have any positive feelings left for the members of Silver Adonis, but that didn't mean she wished to see them suffer.Realizing he might have gone a little too far, a slightly apologetic smile spread across Vahn's face as he ruffled the two girls' hair and muttered, "Sorry...I should have asked for your opinions. I just get a little hotheaded when people try to antagonize and threaten those in my charge..."Returning a smile, Sarina did her best to appear supportive as she said, "It's okay. Nono and I both understand that you just wanted to protect us...isn't that right, Nono-chan...?"Though she didn't say anything, Nono only hesitated for a brief moment before nodding her head, color returning to her cheeks as she reached out to grasp the hem of his tunic. This caused Vahn's expression to relax, his smile returning until Shiroyasha chimed in to remark, "Lolicon~" in a teasing timbre that only he could hear.Deadpanning in response to the white-haired Demoness's remark, Vahn resisted the urge to call her a Lolibaba as he declared, "So long as they don't go around making trouble in the future, I have no reason to pursue this matter further. Consider yourselves lucky that Nono has such a big heart...the next time something like this happens, I will annihilate you without a trace..."With Justinian appearing as though he was about to say something ingratiating, Vahn teleported the entire group away with a wave of his hand. He hated how villains would try to suck up to the strong only to turn around and try to stab them in the back later on. It was one of the cliches he hated most within fiction. Unfortunately, reality itself was derived from fiction, so, if you lived long enough, it was only a matter of time before you encountered every type of person imaginable.Understanding Vahn's thoughts, even without reading his mind, Shiroyasha giggled before turning her attention to Dorothea and asking, "You're still here? I'm warning you right now, little missy, but you don't want to get involved with this man. The moment you drop your guard, you'll find yourself in his bed. He might have a stupidly kind face, but he's a real beast when the lights go out."Blushing in response to Shiroyasha's words, Dorothea supplied another bow, saying, "I-I'll be on my way then...!" before quickly scampering off. The libido of Dragons was infamous, not just within the Divine Realm, but all realities. She also knew of Vahn's association with Inanna, so, having already dedicated her heart to the Leader of her Community, Dorothea didn't hesitate to escape from the front of the Cafe at a full sprint.Cackling like a hyena, Shiroyasha hugged her stomach as she watched Dorothea disappear in the distance. When she turned around, however, her expression paled as she found Vahn towering over her with an unamused expression on his face. She wasn't actually afraid of him, but, for the sake of theatrics, she recoiled away from him, hands covering her breasts and the front of her skirt as she nervously stammered, "W-What are you looking at...?"Though his expression momentarily became even more severe, Vahn ultimately just exhaled a sigh, a wry smile developing across his face as he said, "Thanks for making an appearance when you did. My power is a little unstable at the present. I'm also not sure I could reverse time at my current level so I appreciate your intervention. I'm not particularly fond of senseless destruction so...thanks..."Even without the aid of her Gifts, Shiroyasha could perceive that Vahn was being sincere by the look in his eyes. Despite this, her brow began to twitch slightly as she asked, "Are you enjoying yourself? You know, it's rather rude to pet someone's head without permission..."Blinking in surprise, Vahn retracted his hand from Shiroyasha's head, his smile turning even wrier as he said, "Sorry. It's basically an instinct at this point. You're also the perfect height so...yeah...sorry..."Amused by Vahn's uncharacteristically meek behavior, an amused smile spread across Shiroyasha's face as she dissipated the strange energy that had flowed into her body. She wasn't really upset, so, rather than harp over it, she just made a mental note to stay out of Vahn's range as she said, "Well, I originally intended to give you the chance to spread your wings and do your own thing. Now that it is all but confirmed that your power can't be regulated by the Central Network, I have no choice but to intervene. How about making the Sage Dragon's Hearth a branch of the Thousand Eyes? If you're serious about maintaining neutrality, I can help you find clients. I imagine that would save us both a lot of trouble."Though it was an obvious choice from his point of view, Vahn still turned towards Sarina and Nono, asking, "What do the two of you think? Would you rather build up our Community from the ground up or work together with a much larger organization to keep the peace?"Reacting to Vahn's words, Sarina ceased glaring at Shiroyasha long enough to answer, "As much as I hate to admit it, I don't really have anything to contribute as a Sub-Leader right now. You're such an amazing person, Vahn. If you believe it's a good idea, I'll trust in your judgment...I promise to do my best, no matter what you choose..."Though he got the distinct impression that Sarina was fishing for headpats, Vahn didn't disappoint her. As for Nono, she had even less to say on the matter, saying, "I just don't want to hurt people..." in a meek tone of voice.Recalling his desire to make this a memorable day for both girls, Vahn found himself suppressing a sigh as he noticed Nono's muddled aura. She was still shaken after the encounter with her former Community, so, with the hope of restoring her confidence in him, he retracted his hand from Sarina before taking a knee and saying, "You'll never have to hurt anyone. I promise..." in the most sincere tone he could manage. Then, before the petite redhead could fully process what was happening, he wrapped his arms around her body, gently embracing her as a father would his daughter.Feeling a tremendous amount of warmth and comfort in Vahn's embrace, the tensions in Nono's body gradually relaxed as she leaned into his embrace. She was still feeling a little doubtful, but, understanding he had gotten angry on her behalf, she didn't blame him for what had happened. She just wished he could have settled things without needing to resort to threats or violence...she didn't like it when his kind smile turned into an angry expression...Noticing Nono's aura beginning to stabilize, Vahn gradually released her from his embrace before offering an affectionate smile and pinching her nose. Then, before Sarina could begin pouting, he gestured for her to come closer before giving both girls one final hug.........After agreeing to Shiroyashas's proposal, Vahn had to rent a total of eleven rickshaws to take them to Gate #2105380, the closest Thousand Eyes branch. As for why Shiroyasha didn't simply teleport them, it was because her Authority as a Floor Master prevented it. Most of her powers only worked during Gift Games, so, even if they were members of her Community, she couldn't show favoritism by using them outside her official capacity as a Floor Master. Instead, she promised to prepare an interesting gift for them before promptly disappearing in a flash of bluish-white light.Though he could have easily ascertained what the 'gift' was before their arrival, Vahn dismissed the Law of Identity every time she attempted to spoil him. She was getting better at appearing when he wasn't focused on her, but, rather than begrudge her for this, Vahn was actually looking forward to the day when she might be able to manifest on her own. It didn't matter if he was the only one that could see her. He would be happy so long as she was...At the end of their journey, Vahn, Sarina, and Nono found themselves standing outside of what could best be described as a run-down fortune teller's shop. There were purple banners on the outside declaring it the property of Thousand Eyes, but, if you looked closely, it was possible to see paint flaking from the exterior walls and tiles. As for its structure, it almost resembled a Japanese Shrine, complete with a multi-tiered structure and a sloped-tile roof.Speaking the words on everyone's minds, Sarina asked, "Is this really a shop owned by the Eastern Floor Master? I expected it to be a little more...extravagant...?"Chuckling in response to Sarina's words, Vahn gently ruffled the girl's hair as he said, "It's quite a bit bigger on the inside."Though she was about to ask what he meant, Sarina's expression morphed into a hostile deadpan as a woman with bluish-purple hair and distinct rabbit-like ears emerged from the interior of the shop, asking, "Are you Vahn Mason...?" in an audibly nervous tone.......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Justinian's Luck parameter must be through the roof...','That instinct though xD...','The appearance of a wild bun's buns...!?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Seeing the girl that had come out to greet them, Vahn found himself at a momentary loss as he scanned the 158cm tall girl in front of him. She was attired in a black collar with white frills, a double-vested vest that extended to her thighs, a red miniskirt, black stockings supported by a garter belt, red shoes, and oversized wrist cuffs. At a glance, she resembled the type of bunny girl you might find in a high-end casino, but, unlike the aforementioned fakes, the rabbit ears atop her head were undoubtedly authentic..."Pardon me, but you are Vahn Mason-sama, correct? You match the description Shiroyasha-sama gave previously."Blinking back to his senses, a slightly apologetic smile appeared across Vahn's face as he answered, "Sorry about that. Yes, I am, indeed, Vahn Mason. Vahn Aldrnari Mason, to be exact. And who might you be...?"Exhaling a sigh of relief, the rabbit-eared girl adopted a professional smile as she folded her hands over her lap, bowing politely as she replied, "My name is Black Rabbit. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Vahn-sama. Shiroyasha-sama informed me that you would be helping out with some of my Community's problems. For that, I am eternally grateful."Though he was listening to the woman's words, Vahn was briefly distracted by the enchantments on her clothes. He was normally able to grasp the structure of a person's body at a glance, so much so that he could basically recreate them within his mind with 100% fidelity. This wasn't the case with the girl in front of him. Rather, similar to Circe, her clothes appeared to be enchanted in a way that drew the eye, yet, no matter which angle you viewed her from, you wouldn't be able to perceive the contents of her skirt or peer through the side of her blouse...(*Such a powerful enchantment for such a mundane thing...*)"No kidding..."Hearing Vahn speak, Black Rabbit's ears twitched slightly as she raised her head to ask, "Pardon?" in a slightly disconcerted tone. At the same time, a very light blush colored her cheeks as one of the enchantments sewn into her garments made her aware when people were trying to steal a peek up her skirt. She didn't know how Vahn managed it while standing in front of her, but she knew he had, at the very least, tried...Offering a wry smile, Vahn scratched the back of his head as he resisted the urge to apologize a second time and instead answered, "Shiroyasha hasn't told me anything about your Community. However, so long as it is within my power, I'll do my best to lend you a hand. That's kind of what our Community was made for. Helping people..."Returning a smile of her own, Black Rabbit chimed, "How wonderful~!" before shifting her ruby-eyed gaze to Sarina and Nono, asking, "And how might these charming young ladies be? Members of your Community? Their kimonos look very cute."Stepping up, Sarina resisted the urge to latch onto Vahn's arm as she said, "My name is Sarina. I'm the Sub-Leader of Sage Dragon's Hearth. I will also do my best to provide assistance."Though she didn't sound nearly as sincere as Vahn when she was speaking, Sarina did her best not to let her jealousy show as she eyed Black Rabbit's rather shapely breasts with an envious gleam in her amethyst eyes.Noticing Sarina's gaze, a dry laugh emanated from Black Rabbit's throat as she shifted her attention to Nono. In response, the latter took a half step behind Vahn, her sky-blue eyes glistening with tiny motes of light as she whispered, "My name is Nono...Nono Nalnananu...I've never seen anyone with rabbit ears before...you're very beautiful...""Oh my! Aren't you just a darling~! It's a pleasure to meet you, Nono andSarina~!"Though she responded with a joyful smile, Vahn didn't miss the melancholy in Black Rabbit's gaze the moment Nono mentioned her being the only rabbit-eared person she had seen. There were actually a considerable number of demi and beast humans in the East Side, enough that it could easily pass for the Yokai District of Avalon. This included catgirls, dog girls, wolf girls, mouse girls, and pretty much every other version of kemonomimi that could be imagined. Everything except rabbit girls...Shaking his head in response to the Law of Identity's inquisitive look, Vahn adopted a smile of his own as he suggested, "We should head inside. It's been a long day for the girls. I'm sure they would enjoy the opportunity to rest.""Oh! Goodness me! I shouldn't have kept you waiting for so long! Please, follow me! The inside of the shop can get pretty confusing. Let Black Rabbit show you the way~!"Without waiting for the group's response, Black Rabbit turned around with the intent to lead the way inside. This brought her tiny tuft of a tail into view, and, though he did his best to keep his eyes forward, Vahn couldn't help looking downward since it was waggling like an over-excited puppy.Sensing his gaze, Black Rabbit looked over her shoulder, an embarrassed smile on her face as she covered her tail with both hands and said, "Please don't stare too much...I get embarrassed excited and embarrassed easily..."Returning a wry smile of his own, Vahn did his best to ignored the pointed look he was receiving from Sarina as he followed Black Rabbit into the unsurprisingly complex interior of the Thousand Eyes shop. The interior was basically an entire Japanese estate, complete with a hot springs bath, a vast forest, and a view of snow-capped mountains in the distance. This caught Sarina and Nono by surprise, but, having an entire series of metaverses contained within him, Vahn merely admired the scenic beauty in silence as Black Rabbit gave them a tour of the facilities.........After several minutes of wandering around, Black Rabbit ultimately led Vahn, Sarina, and Nono to a room near the exact center of the massive estate. There, Shiroyasha could be seen lying on a futon in a rather slovenly manner. This was exacerbated by her frilly black skirt, as, unlike Black Rabbit, she hadn't placed any enchantments on her clothing. As a result, each of them could see the outline of her butt and lower body as she had nothing but pale, bluish-white stockings covering her legs and bottom."Like what you see, big boy~?"Without tearing her eyes away from the rather old-fashioned television she was watching, an impish smile developed across Shiroyasha's face. She was the chief Sun Deity in the Divine Realm, and, as a result, she possessed a nigh-unrivaled degree of omniscience. She was aware of virtually everything taking place in the Little Garden, so, even if Vahn hadn't actually peered at the contents of her skirt, she was well aware of the fact his senses had probed her.With Vahn adopting a deadpan expression on his face, Black Rabbit did her best to smooth things over by issuing an awkward laugh and saying, "Shiroyasha-sama. I've brought your guests. Should I have Nadeshiko-san prepare tea...?"After scratching her right calf using the toes of her left foot, Shiroyasha rolled to a seated position, a cheeky grin on her face as she answered, "That won't be necessary. That man next to you has all kinds of snacks and goodies hidden away in his Inventory. I'm sure he wouldn't mind contributing a few."Raising his brows, Vahn resisted the urge to cross his arms in defiance as he said, "We just spent the last half a day riding rickshaws to get here. Sarina and Nono are exhausted. I don't mind providing tea and snacks, but this reception is quite a bit different from what we were expecting..."Shifting her attention to the two girls in question, Shiroyasha's golden eyes flickered with a not-so-subtle light as she said, "Hmm...I see what you mean. Very well then. I'll have my personal attendant, Nadeshiko, take them to the bath. We also have about forty guest rooms so there is plenty of space for them to rest while the three of us discuss matters of great importance."Immediately follow Shiroyasha's statement, a petite woman with blue eyes and matching blue hair entered the room. Just as her name implied, she was like the personification of a perfect Japanese woman except, instead of black hair and black eyes, she had the aforementioned blue. As for her attire, it consisted of a modest blue kimono fastened together with a prim and proper yellow obi. Over that, she wore a traditional Japanese-style apron that extended from her collarbones down to her calves."Please, follow me. I will show you to the bath."Since neither Sarina nor Nono moved when the woman spoke, Vahn gave them both a slight nudge as he said, "Don't worry. This place is isolated from the outside world. Even if a Demon Lord was to attack, they wouldn't be able to shatter the barrier covering this estate. Go take a bath and enjoy a nice long rest. You've earned it."Though Sarina seemed reluctant to go, she quickly adopted a resolute expression on her face as she grabbed Nono's hand and said, "Come on, Nono-chan. You can help me wash my back and I'll help you wash your hair. Let's try out the new shampoo Vahn bought for us."Without waiting for the auburn-haired girl's consent, Sarina pulled her along gently yet forcibly. Her behavior was clearly forced, but, rather than say anything, Vahn, Shiroyasha, and even Black Rabbit just watched the two girls depart with smiles on their faces. It was only when Nadeshiko had closed the door behind them that Shiroyasha broke the silence, stating, "Though I'm reluctant to hand her over, I've decided to gift you Black Rabbit. Be grateful."Vocalizing the thought that had crossed Vahn's mind, Black Rabbit loudly exclaimed, "Excuse me!? Whose handing who over!?" in a clearly flustered tone of voice. She was so flustered, in fact, that her hair immediately transitioned from a rich and creamy blue to a vibrant, glowing pink.Digging into her nose with the pinky finger of her left hand, Shiroyasha explained, "Vahn has the power to restore your people. He might not be able to bring them back to life, but he can create new Moon Rabbits using his Gifts. From what I've seen, he also has the power to freely change his race so he's really the only option you have if you want to prevent your species from going extinct. Besides, you're already 212-years-old. Isn't it about time you start pumping out baby rabbits?"With cheeks that were redder than her hair was pink, Black Rabbit's eyes began to spin as she covered her face and stammered, "T-T-That may be so! However! Don't you think this is a little sudden!? M-My heart isn't ready...!"In the midst of her exclamation, Black Rabbit attempted to look towards Vahn only for an illusory puff of steam to emerge from her head. Her ears were also twitching madly, so much so that they were basically just flopping around as she averted both her face and body away from him.Adopting a grin that would have made Loki proud, Shiroyasha continued observing Black Rabbit for several seconds before looking towards Vahn and musing, "Don't mind her. She might be flustered right now, but her instincts will activate the moment you push her down. I don't think I need to tell you this, but rabbits are pretty much always in heat. Make-"Before Shiroyasha could continue, Black Rabbit pulled an inordinately large paper fan out of thin air, smacking the mischievous loli's head with enough force to rotate it nearly forty-five degrees as she exclaimed, "There is such a thing as taking a joke too far, Shiroyasha-sama!"Rubbing her head, Shiroyasha maintained a smiling yet serious expression as she said, "But you see, my dear Black Rabbit, I'm not actually joking. Vahn really does possess the abilities I mentioned. He is also an incurable busybody, so, once he learns about the situation plaguing your Community, he is bound to do everything in his power to help you. You're bound to fall in love with him anyway, so you might as well get a head start before this nincompoop spontaneously ends up with a harem of one hundred women. Really, I'm doing you a favor by trying to set you up early."Though Shiroyasha's words hit the proverbial nail on the head, Vahn wasn't fond of the way she was trying to make decisions on Black Rabbit's behalf. He might possess a peculiar weakness for women with rabbit-like features but that didn't mean he was just going to smile and accept her suggestion. Thus, before the situation could get further out of hand, he adopted a stern tone as he said, "That's enough. As you have pointed out, I possess the ability to help restore her people's population even without using more 'direct' means. Stop trying to force her."Similar to Loki, Shiroyasha showed absolutely no sign of perturbation in response to Vahn's words. Instead, her smile became even more prominent as she spied Black Rabbit peering at Vahn through the gaps between her fingers with an appreciative expression on her face.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Such a malicious enchantment...','Shiroyasha is an imp...','(O w O)...?')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

"Nono! Get away from that bastard...!"Apparently having failed to learn his lesson, Justinian, Leader of the Silver Adonis, shouted with such rage and indignation in his voice that it nearly cracked.Nono, hearing his outburst, immediately turned towards Vahn, face buried into his sleeve as she clung to his yukata with her right hand. This caused the silver-haired man to become even more incensed, but, before he could shout a second time, Dorothea adopted a harsh tone and said, "I didn't bring you here to insult people and throw a tantrum. Be quiet."Though he looked like he had swallowed a bug, Justinian fell silent when he saw Dorothea shift the oversized sword on her shoulder.While this interaction was going on, Vahn maintained an unperturbed expression on his face as he listened to Loi-chain reveal the reason behind the man's anger. He had apparently been more than a little fond of Nono's adult self. This factored into why he had elected to summon her from among the functionally infinite number of Heroes present within the Lower Realms. He intended to turn her into his future bride, so, seeing her next to another man, it was no wonder he was upset.Snorting through his nose, Vahn's expression became discernible cold as he handed the rickshaw coolie a rather handsome tip. Then, with Nono effectively hiding behind him, he passed his icy gaze over the predominately hostile group before setting his sights on Dorothea and asking, "What's this about? Is Twice Twilight in the business of backing ruffians and scoundrels? I would be more than a little disappointed if that was the case..."Furrowing her brows ever so slightly, Dorothea shook her head and explained, "No. It's nothing like that. We do our best to be fair and impartial. This is ultimately just an extension of our investigation into yesterday's matter."Nodding his head, Vahn gestured for Dorothea to continue as he shifted his gaze to Justinian. This caused the purple-haired beauty to release a tired sight, but, despite her frustrations, she went on to add, "According to the members of Silver Adonis, their reason for attacking you was because you had kidnapped a member of their Community. I believe the young lady behind you is the person in question...?"Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn's expression morphed into a deadpan as he asked, "Does it look like I have kidnapped her? Even a fool would be able to see that I'm protecting her..."Though she didn't appreciate the fact that Vahn was basically insinuating she was a fool, Dorothea maintained an ostensibly unperturbed expression as she replied, "Yes, that much is clear. However, as there are clearly some personal grievances between both sides, it would serve the public order if you either set aside your differences or settled things with a Gift Game. I have been sent here to act as an impartial Host. If both sides agree, we will settle this using the means ordained by the Gods.""Oh? And what are the terms you came up with? If it wasn't obvious at this point, Nono is now a member of my Community. Specifically, she is our Adjutant. Even if Silver Adonis offered the lives of every single one of their members as collateral, their combined value wouldn't even reach a fraction of Nono's. In other words, they have absolutely nothing to offer if I win. Why should I participate in a Gift Game with them?""You son of a bi-"Before Justinian could finish his ill-conceived words, Vahn made a pointing gesture towards the ground, saying, "Lower your head and keep quiet." in a commanding tone. This caused the silver-haired man to faceplant into the ground, his eyes turning bloodshot as he found himself unable to raise his head so much as a single centimeter.Stepping in between Vahn and Justinian, Dorothea's expression showed her unwillingness as she said, "This isn't how we do things in the Little Garden. You can't just resort to violence to solve all of your problems. Please reconsider before this matter grows even further out of proportion..."Upon closer inspection, Vahn noticed that the massive sword on Dorothea's shoulder was actually another syringe. Unlike the needleless one she was carrying yesterday, however, it had a 20cm long golden needle dripping a fiery red liquid that had crystallized into the structure of her sword. As she stepped out in front of him, the liquid within the syringe began to glisten with an intense light, and, though she was clearly holding back, the surrounding temperature began to skyrocket.With a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Vahn plainly stated, "It's a little counterintuitive to say you condemn violence when you clearly have no problems resorting to it yourself. Is this really the hill you wish to fight upon? Defending a group of individuals that target and attack children from a samaritan that stepped in to prevent a tragedy? You didn't show up when Nono was being chased through the streets with bloodied feet. Instead, you appear to protect the people who spent the last seven months tormenting her. You've quite the twisted sense of justice, don't ya...?"Clenching her teeth, Dorothea wanted to say something in her defense, but, from an objective point of view, everything Vahn said hit the nail on the head. She was literally preparing to confront him in order to protect a group of individuals that were, very clearly, in the wrong. There were also no laws prohibiting people from leaving one Community and joining another, so, after a moment of tense silence, she ultimately chose to retract her blade, her outfit changing to resemble the one she wore the previous day as she lowered her head and said, "I don't wish to fight you. I just want to preserve the peace. The members of Silver Adonis might be absolute scum, but they are still residents of the Little Garden. Please try and settle things in accordance with our laws..."Not expecting Dorothea to suddenly bow her head, a pleading undertone to her voice, Vahn felt as though all the wind had been taken out of his sails. Sincerity had been one of his most prominent weaknesses even as far back as his time in Danmachi. Thus, understanding that Dorothea was just doing what she believed was best, he just shrugged his shoulders and said, "Fine. State your terms. So long as the conditions aren't too ridiculous, I don't mind teaching these buffoons a more official lesson..."Punctuating his words, Vahn snapped his fingers, removing the invisible force pressing Justinian's head to the ground. This cause the man to leap to his feet, but, rather than attacking, he just glared venomously as Dorothea went on to explain, "Very well. Both sides will issue their own terms while I, acting as an impartial Host, will determine which Game shall be played. Don't worry. I will make sure it is as fair and balanced as possible."Without any hesitation whatsoever, Justinian pointed towards Nono, his expression absolutely livid as he stated, "I want you to return Nono. My Community invested thirteen years' worth of resources into summoning her. You have no right to poach her out from under us...!"Snorting a second time, Vahn crossed his arms as he asked, "And you're telling me you had a right to kidnap a 9-year-old girl from her homeworld? Ridiculous. If you want her that badly, feel free to wager your banner and territory. I already mentioned it previously, but the combined value of your entire Community can't measure up to a single strand of her hair on her head. I also have no use for your Gifts, so, unless you're willing to wager your territory, get out of my face.""You...!"Holding up her hand, Dorothea effectively silenced Justinian before turning to Vahn and saying, "I don't mean to take sides, but the Central Network will never recognize the value of a single person as equivalent to a Community's banner and territory. While it is praiseworthy to place such value in your compatriots, others would be able to make similar claims by stating that something as simple as a stone carries comparable value...Unless you have something to offer that is of equal value to what you are requesting, please reconsider your terms..."Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn manifested what appeared to be a thick stack of tarot cards. This caused everyone in the surroundings, not just Dorothea and the members of Silver Adonis, to immediately tense up."I will wager an additional 100 C-Rank Gift Cards against your Community's Flag and Territory. Also, now that you have triggered my ire, know that I will immediately declare war on you the moment you refuse. You forced me to participate in this little charade. You will see it through to the end or face consequences you can't even begin to imagine."Though his golden pupils reflected a greedy light the moment he saw the stack of Gift Cards, any desire Justinian had to challenge Vahn had dissipated greatly. Even Floor Masters only possessed a few hundred Gifts yet the person in front of him was able to casually proffer forth an entire deck full of them. This implied that Vahn had an incomprehensible backing, and, were it not for the threat he had tacked on to the end of his statement, Justinian might have voluntarily lowered his head to the ground.Demonstrating just as much shock as everyone else, Dorothea swallowed hard before asking, "Can I inspect them? Even if they are C-Rank Gifts, it would be a problem if they were all the same thing..."Since it was possible to seal the branches of Water Trees into Gift Cards, effectively converting them into portable water sources, Dorothea needed to check in order to make sure Vahn wasn't trying to pull the wool over their eyes. The casualness in which he handed them over made it pretty clear this wasn't the case, but, as she had already promised to be an impartial Host, Dorothea went through each of the Gift Cards in turn, her eyes widening as she found a few B and A-Rank Cards mixed in."Umm...Vahn...sama? Some of these cards are B and A-Rank..."Waving his hand in a gesture of dismissal, Vahn stated, "It doesn't really matter. They decided to prick at this Dragon's Reverse Scale. Now they will pay the price."Punctuating his words, Vahn allowed horns to grow from his head like a crown as golden wings and a thick tail protruded from his upper and lower back. This caused the more opportunistic individuals who were watching from the sidelines to immediately mind their own business. As for the members of Silver Adonis, Justinian's expression paled as more than half of the group he brought along with him attempted to retract their affiliation with his Community.Since they had already come this far, Vahn's pupils retracted to form thin slits as he said, "It's far too late for that. You had your chance when I entrusted you to the Twice Twilight Community. Now, you come requesting a member of my family as a prize. Did you really think I would let you walk away a second time...?"Though he was doing his best to restrain his aura, even Vahn was surprised by how oppressive it was becoming. This was the first time he had transformed into a dragon since his awakening, and, based on what he was currently seeing, it was a hell of a lot stronger than usual.Fortunately, just as it seemed like the surroundings buildings might collapse, a somewhat childish voice echoed through the streets, saying, "This is getting a little out of hand. How about we all just calm down and take a niiiiiiice long breath~?"Immediately following the words, a girl appearing even younger than Sarina and Nono manifested out of thin air with a mischievous yet serious expression on her face. This caused the few remaining people nearby to immediately disperse, as, despite being a recluse, there were very few people who didn't know what the Eastern Floor Master looked like. She was, after all, the most infamous lolita in the entire Divine Realm.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Justinian be like, "Don't cuck me...!"','I kind of feel sorry for Dorothea. She was not prepared to deal with someone like Vahn xD...','Front row seats~! Shishishishishisi~')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2054: Compromise : Cooperation?