Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Since things were bound to get chaotic with the introduction of three Problem Children, Vahn decided to take a few extra precautions.First and foremost, he gave the trio the option of temporarily sealing away their powers. They would still be able to activate them whenever they wanted, but, shortly thereafter, they would find themselves ejected from the Game Board.Though they had never revealed it to him, Vahn was aware of each of the Problem Children's motivations for entering the Divine Realm. Izayoi was eager to become the hero his adoptive mother had always wanted him to be, Yo wanted to make friends, and Asuka had grown tired of living in a world where everyone obeyed her every command.By limiting their capabilities in the beginning, Vahn was hoping to give the trio the chance to adapt to the world rather than immediately flipping it on its head. They would need to Level up if they wanted unrestricted access to their powers. As for Jin, well, Vahn had a number of plans for the young magus.Unlike the original Danmachi, the world within the Game Board was entirely under Vahn's control. This had allowed him to make quite a number of changes, the vast majority of which revolved around the fates of his family, friends, and loved ones.Even if they were ultimately just illusions, Vahn would never turn a blind eye to the suffering of his loved ones.One example of the changes Vahn had introduced included Lily being adopted by the flower store owners at a very young age. Another saw Haruhime being picked up by Syr shortly after being imported to the mainland.Simply put, Vahn had effectively plotted out every major event that would take place over a six-year cycle within the Game Board. This included shamelessly making the girls he was in a relationship with wholly uninterested in romance. They might be illusions, but, with a fidelity rate of 99.99963%, very few people would be able to tell the difference between the world within the Game Board and reality.Vahn had no desire to see his wives, lovers, and the mothers of his children in a relationship with other people so even Freya was remarkably chaste within the Game Board. She was still one of the central antagonists, but, depending on the Players' choices, she would either end up allying with Loki or being forced to return to Heaven.This time around, Vahn had taken it upon himself to alter fate even further. He made it so that, shortly after Izayoi reached Level 5, Legend would take an interest in him. This included Helen, who, even now, existed as a source of exasperation within Vahn's mind.Though she wouldn't really be a problem by the time he has ascended to the pinnacle of Tier 7, Vahn had never been particularly fond of Helen. He was interested to see how Izayoi would deal with her, so, while it was a little underhanded of him, Vahn made doubly sure their paths would cross within the first three years.If left to his own devices, Izayoi would quickly conquer the dungeon and trigger the ejection of everyone within the Game Board. There was even a chance he would steal Bell's spotlight and save the world on his own terms, so, prior to the group's entrance into the Game Board, Vahn made sure they were aware of the ongoing tensions between Orario and pretty much every other country. This included discussing the Ares Familia's Caste System, the corruption of the Elves, the greed of the Dwarves, and, most importantly, the enslavement of the Pallum.Izayoi, despite his protests, was both a busybody and a tsundere. If he knew there was an entire race of people that were being pressed, he was bound to do something about it. The best method would be to team up with Finn, but, given Loki's nature, Izayoi wouldn't be able to trust her. In other words, he was bound to venture out and try to resolve things on his own terms.By keeping Izayoi busy with international affairs, the others would have ample time to make progress of their own. Sure, they might not be able to conquer the dungeon but they could still participate in the war that generally took place near the end of the third year. That would be an invaluable learning experience for them. After all, if Shiroyasha's words were anything to go by, war wasn't far off in the Little Garden's future. In fact, it was the reason the Problem Children had been summoned.........Since it was a mild inconvenience to make constant changes to the flow of time within the Game Board, Vahn hadn't adjusted it since the showdown with Perseus Community. In other words, he had about two hours to kill before everyone was unceremoniously ejected from the interior.Though he had invited her to accompany him, Lily ultimately refused Jin's invitation on the grounds that he needed to stop relying on her. Entering the Game Board was a decision he had made, and, while she supported it, she refused to be apart from her friends and family in the pursuit of power. Thus, after seeing the group off with a smile, she plopped down next to Vahn with the intention of awaiting their return.Understanding why she had chosen to sit next to him, Vahn habitually caressed Lily's head as he said, "Don't worry. Jin is a good kid. The people I sent him to are also amazing, so, even if he has to experience a few difficulties, he'll be fine."Adopting a somewhat melancholic, Lily tilted her head so that it was easier for Vahn to access the space between her ears as she replied, "I'm not worried. I've always trusted Jin and Izayoi, Asuka, and Yo are all amazing people. I just wish they didn't push themselves so hard...Jin used to be so confident and full of energy. Even if it was just a mask, he brought us all together and became our Leader...it breaks my heart to see him so full of doubt...""Mmm...the burden of leadership is heavy. Even with a tremendous amount of support, there were times when I nearly collapsed under its strain. Considering he was only eight when he accepted the burden of leadership, Jin has performed spectacularly..."Nodding her head in approval, Lily's smile visibly brightened as she nestled a little closer to Vahn's shoulder. This caused the latter's smile to cramp. Fortunately, Lily didn't seem to have any wayward thoughts toward him. Her aura was primarily composed of sunny yellows, soft blues, and a hint of purple. Threads of pink would periodically appear, but, for the most part, they would only persist for a brief moment before promptly fading away...As if to spite him, Vahn noticed the center of Lily's aura shift from a sunny yellow to a pale shade of pink as she muttered, "Now that I think about it, I never did thank you..."Restraining a dry chuckle, Vahn retracted his hand from Lily's head as he said, "That isn't necessary. As I said previously, I didn't help the No Names because I was expecting gratitude. I helped because it was the right thing to do and-"Interrupting Vahn's speech with an amused giggle, Lily leaned her head against his shoulder before saying, "I wasn't talking about that. While I am grateful for everything you've done for us, that isn't what I wanted to thank you for. Rather, even if I dedicated my life to trying to repay you, I feel that my debts would only increase...no...the thing I wanted to thank you for is your comment during the party..."Despite having a mind that could grasp the structure of an entire world, it still took a few moments for Vahn to understand what Lily was referring to. This was immediately followed by a sudden and intense urge to smack himself in the forehead..."Do you really think I'm as beautiful as Black Rabbit...?"In a manner eerily reminiscent of Haruhime, one of Lily's tails naturally coiled around Vahn's waist as she craned her head to gauge his reaction. When she saw the stoic yet statuesque expression on his face, she couldn't help but giggle. He was normally very calm and relaxed so it was refreshing to see him with such a silly expression on his face.Feeling emboldened, Lily entrusted more of her weight to Vahn's shoulder as she softly muttered, "I don't mind..." with upturned eyes.Resisting the urge to ask what, exactly, she didn't mind, Vahn startled Lily by pinching her nose and saying, "Cut it out. I'd rather not have Jin resent me the moment he emerges from the Game Board. Besides, even if you look like this, you're still only ten years old. You might be very mature for your age but you have a long way to go before I consider you an adult."Though she was briefly confused by Vahn's words, it didn't take long for Lily to understand the greater meaning behind them. This caused her own expression to turn statuesque, a prominent shade of crimson rising from her neck and spreading through her cheeks as her brain temporarily overloaded.While she had, in fact, been trying to flirt with him, Lily had never considered taking things so far. The most she expected was having her head caressed or her tails fondled. A bit of light touching was also acceptable, but, beyond that, the most intimate thing she had envisioned was the two of them holding hands...Cupping her reddened cheeks, Lily's ears and tails twitched violently as she looked away from Vahn and cutely exclaimed, "How scandalous~!" in an adorably high-pitched tone. This left Vahn at a loss for words, not because he had misunderstood Lily's intentions, but because she was clearly pleased by the misunderstanding.........Wiping away a trace of blood from his lips, a somewhat insolent smile spread across the face of a heroic-looking youth in his early twenties. His blond hair was a bit of a mess, but, with eyes that gleamed like crystal-clear amethysts and a dilapidated pair of headphones hanging loosely around his neck, even people who had never met him would recognize the man as the legendary Sakamaki Izayoi."You're one tough bastard, you know that...?"Hoving in the air a few hundred meters from Izayoi's position was a golden-haired man wearing resplendent golden armor. In response to Izayoi's words, he just snorted before rolling his crimson eyes and remarking, "You're just weak. It's pathetic, really. Even after receiving that whore's power, all you can do is skitter around like an insect. I can't help but wonder what kind of subterfuge you used to defeat that muscle-headed fool and his brother..."Laughing in spite of his injuries, Izayoi forced himself to stand before tearing away the remnants of the dark-purple tunic covering his body. This revealed a muscular frame covered in injuries, as, even after five years, ten months, and seventeen days, he had never once used his power. He had clawed his way to the top through his own efforts, and, after defeating countless foes, the only person that posed any threat to him was the man standing in the air: Gilgamesh, the God-Emperor."Not everyone has to rely on deceit and subterfuge to defeat their enemies. Just because you got your ass kicked doesn't mean everyone else has to get their asses kicked. Now, stop talking. This is supposed to be a battle. I'm not your therapist."Snorting a second time, Gilgamesh, inspired by the version from the Nasuverse, spread his arms to create countless golden portals. This caused the smile on Izayoi's face to become more prominent, as, despite feeling as though Gilgamesh's ability was complete bullshit, he was confident he could come out ahead..."Let's dance, Goldilocks...!"......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn be like, "Covet my women? I don't fucking think so..."','TFW you step on a landmine while trying to avoid shooting yourself in the foot...','Protagonist vibes xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Expecting at least one of the four to get ejected before the time limit, Vahn was quite surprised when the entire two hours passed. Immediately after that, four flashes of light emerged from the planar diorama as far more mature versions of Izayoi, Asuka, Yo, and Jin appeared."Yo, long time no see."Seizing the opportunity to break the awkward tensions that had built between him and Lily, Vahn rose to his feet and greeted the group. It took them a while, but, after several seconds of stunned silence, Asuka was the one to answer, "Indeed...it really has been..."Though she had started out by speaking towards Vahn, Asuka's gaze shifted to Izayoi toward the latter half of her words. Then, with an indignant pout on her markedly more mature face, she asked, "And where, might I ask, have you been? We really could have used your help during the war. Some hero you turned out to be."Without missing a beat, Izayoi, hand on his hip, retorted, "Jeez. Just bite my head off, why don'tcha? What, did you miss me?"Surprising the blond-haired young man quite a bit, Asuka's pout became more pronounced as she asked, "Is that such a bad thing? We were the only real people in that world. We should have stuck together. Why did you have to run off and play hero somewhere we couldn't follow?"While she was far from tears, a thin layer of moisture began to spread across Asuka's aqua blue eyes. The last two and a half years within the Game Board had been especially difficult for her, as, despite knowing the people inside didn't exist, she couldn't just ignore them. Thus, she had spent nearly half the duration of her stay trying to guarantee the rights of the Xenos while simultaneously brokering peace between Orario and the surrounding countries. It hadn't been easy. Not at all.Not expecting the mature Japanese beauty to suddenly tear up, Iazyoi's smile promptly faded away as he scratched the back of his head. In truth, he felt she was being unreasonable. After all, it's not like he had just disappeared without an explanation. He told her exactly what he was up to and that he might not be able to return before their expulsion from the Game Board. It wasn't exactly fair for her to try and pin blame, but, rather than point that out, he just shook his head, exhaled a sigh, and muttered, "Sorry..." in an apologetic tone.Biting back her tears with a sniffle, Asuka was about to lay into the blond-haired youth even further when Vahn interjected, suggesting, "Let's shift this discussion to the dining room. I've prepared a feast to welcome you back. I'm sure you'll feel better once you've filled your bellies with delicious food."Though everyone else appeared relatively unaffected by their time within the Game Board, Vahn made sure to address the entire group as he was speaking. Asuka, despite her numerous character flaws, had a very strong sense of responsibility. Even in her previous life, she had primarily used her powers to help people. Thus, even without inquiring into the specifics, Vahn knew she had probably worked herself to the bone trying to 'fix' the underlying issues of Orario...Hearing mention of food, the stomaches of everyone present felt empty while Yo's outright growled its response. This caused the youthful-looking brunette to blush, but, instead of remaining silent or averting her eyes, a voracious smile developed across her face as she wiped away a bit of drool and said, "Finally...I've been dreaming of this day for the past six years...!"Seemingly unsurprised by Yo's reaction, Asuka, Jin, and even Izayoi exhaled moderately exasperated sighs as the source of their exasperation pumped her fists in excitement. Yo had matured quite a bit in the physical department, but, due to possessing a strong desire to befriend others, her previously taciturn nature had given way for a far more outgoing and bubbly personality. She had even cut her hair in a manner reminiscent of Tiona, so, even without asking, Vahn could surmise the two had met and gotten along very well...As that thought crossed his mind, Vahn briefly shifted his attention to Jin, who, since the moment of his return, had been staring at Lily. The once-girlish youth had matured quite a bit, and, though he still possessed a few androgynous features, his perpetually concerned expression had given way for a remarkably calm and calculating look. This, combined with the fact their hairstyles were virtually identical, reminded Vahn of when Merlin was serious...Noticing Vahn's gaze, Jin briefly shifted his own to match. A slight smile then developed across his face as he said, "It's good to see you again, Vahn..."Nodding his head in affirmation, Vahn was about to return the young mage's greeting when Jin's smile promptly faded away, followed by an accusatory, "I really wish you would have mentioned Hestia-sama's quirks in advance..."Restraining the urge to burst out laughing, Vahn just issued a light chuckle before asking, "Why? Do you regret joining her Familia?"Without a moment's hesitation, Jin immediately shook his head, stating, "No. I'm just a little jaded, that's all. Given how highly you spoke of her, my expectations during our first encounter may have been a little too high. At first, I couldn't help wondering why you sent me to her. It was only during the events of the second year that I began to understand. Hestia-sama's regard for the people she considers her family is beyond praiseworthy. She never stopped supporting us, and, no matter how difficult things became, she was always there to pick us up and give us the push we needed to keep fighting. If I possessed even a fraction of the trust Hestia-sama demonstrated toward the people in her Familia, I have no doubt I would have been a much better Community Leader..."Feeling gratified by Jin's words, an appreciative smile developed across Vahn's face. When the boy was finished speaking, he was half tempted to just walk over and give him a pat on the head. Before he could, however, Jin shifted his attention back to Lily, a resolute glimmer flashing across his eyes as he added, "I promised myself that, upon my return, I would no longer hesitate..."As Asuka and Yo became visibly excited, Jin walked over to the increasingly befuddled-looking Lily before bending down and taking a knee. Even Vahn was surprised by this development, but, thanks to his inhuman speed, he was able to give the two childhood friends an adequate amount of space as Jin grasped Lily's hand and said, "Lily...even if you never regard me in a similar light, I want you to know how I feel...how I've always felt..."Though she appeared slightly troubled by Jin's words and actions, Lily would be lying if she said her heart wasn't racing. She had actually been expecting Jin to confess for quite some time, but, due to his lack of self-confidence, he never got past telling her there was something he wanted to say. This was a marked improvement, but, after indirectly confessing to Vahn and spending the better part of two hours flirting, it also felt extremely awkward...After taking a deep breath to steady his heart and mind, Jin stared directly into Lily's emerald green eyes as he said, "I...I...I think you should be the Leader of the No Names...!"While everyone else looked like they wanted to slap their foreheads, Lily just tilted her head to the side in response to Jin's unexpected 'confession'. The smile on her face didn't fade in the slightest, but, after getting all worked up, a part of her wanted to ask if there was something wrong with his head. If he had been more direct, she might have given him a chance. After all, she did love him. It was more of a motherly type of love, but, with time, she was certain it could grow into something more substantial. Now, she wasn't so sure.........In an effort to salvage some of Jin's dignity, Vahn ended up interrupting the youth's explanation by reminding everyone about the feast he had prepared. This left the young magus feeling a little taken aback, but, with everyone else eager to eat, he reluctantly agreed to the change of location. Before they could reach it, however, Vahn pulled him off to the side, asking, "What's this all about, kiddo?"Though he was briefly confused by Vahn's words, a look of understanding flashed across Jin's face as he lowered his head and answered, "After spending so much time in the Hestia Familia, I've come to realize that the best person to lead isn't necessarily the strongest or the smartest. Lily has always been there for everyone, myself included. Most importantly, no matter how difficult things became, she never stopped smiling...""Kid...you know that isn't what I'm asking about..."With a self-deprecating smile spreading across his face, Jin nodded his head in affirmation, adding, "I know...if I'm being completely honest, I fell in love with Lily a long time ago. The problem is...I'm not the only one. Most of the boys around our age feel the exact same way. After all, Lily has been our emotional and spiritual anchor for the past three years. Every single member of the Community looks up to her and she has acted as a surrogate mother of sorts for all of us. Even if she was willing to give me a chance, Lily's smile belongs to everyone...I have no right to monopolize it...""Kid..."Placing his right hand on Jin's shoulder, Vahn prevented him from moving as his left hand formed into a fist. Then, far faster than Jin could react, he gave the seventeen-year-old youth a firm smack on the head, asking, "Are you an idiot!?" in an incredulous tone.Though it had been six years, Jin immediately recalled all the times Vahn had knocked him on the head. This caused tears to build in the corners of his eyes as he rubbed the knot atop his head and asked, "Why did you hit me!?" like a wronged child.Resisting the urge to give the teal-haired youth another smack, Vahn inhaled a deep breath through his nose before gesturing to the large red sofa he had manifested out of thin air. This earned him a severe pout from the young magus, but, understanding he didn't really have a choice, it wasn't long before Jin sat down with a defiant look on his face.Feeling slightly exasperated, Vahn shook his head before sitting next to the youth and placing his hand on Jin's shoulder. Then, like a father talking to his son, he adopted a stern yet gentle tone as he began to explain his personal thoughts on the matter.In hindsight, Vahn realized that the thing Jin truly lacked was parental insight from a father figure. Hestia had helped him to build the confidence necessary to pursue his dreams, but, as a maternal figure, she couldn't really guide him through the process of transitioning from a young boy to a young man. Jin needed a father figure to teach him how to be selfish or else he would spend his entire life serving the interests of others. This was a flaw Vahn was intimately familiar with, so, with the hope of correcting some of the youth's misunderstandings, he spent the better part of six-and-a-half hours explaining to him the intricacies of a woman's heart and mind.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Asuka is a very responsible young woman...','There isn't an OOF setting high enough for this level of cringe...','There is still hope, Jin! Listen to the wisdom of the Sage Dragon Emperor...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

"First of all, I'd like to thank everyone for coming. I hope you all were able to have fun and enjoy the game despite the relatively low stakes. I am of the opinion that not every Gift Game should require the participants to place something of value on the line. The Little Garden should be a place where everyone is able to live freely and have fun. With that in mind, I hope to see you all in future games hosted by the Sage Dragon's Hearth. This will not be a one-time thing. I give you my word."In response to Vahn's short and concise speech, the crowd erupted into a violent cheer that seemed to shake the very foundations of the Little Garden. There were a lot of suppressed peoples in this highest of realms so it was refreshing for them to hear someone speak of freedom and having fun. It had been too long since many of them had hope, so, now that there was a Community willing to host events that didn't require them to make sacrifices, many were looking forward to working with the Sage Dragon's Hearth in the future.Waving to the crowd, Vahn offered a sincere smile in response to their cheers. Hosting events like this could be a little troublesome, but, once he had found his footing in the 4-Digit Gates, he could always have someone else host them on his behalf. He also enjoyed seeing people happy, so, for the remainder of the closing and reward ceremony, he stuck around to personally pass out medals........."Congratulations, everyone. The Sage Dragon's Hearth is now, officially, a 5-Digit Community~!"Unable to suppress her excitement, Black Rabbit released a number of party poppers as everyone around the table either cheered or returned a smile. Fenrir, Leticia, Hime, and Nono weren't exactly the type to openly exclaim. As for Seraphina, she had already retired to her bedroom as she never liked being around such a large group of Vahn's lovers. This left Vahn, Usalia, and Sarina as the only people cheering from the side of the Sage Dragon's Hearth.Fortunately, the Sage Dragon's Hearth wasn't the only Community present. Vahn had also invited the core members of Twice Twilight, Leviathan's Tail, and the No Names to participate. These were the three Communities he had convinced to act as Subordinate Communities in order to meet the qualifications for hosting the Vahnatus. Thus, while more than half the members of his Community were taciturn beauties, the response to Black Rabbit's cheer was enough to cause Will to activate a sound dampening formation in the recently constructed banquet hall.Though they were a little surprised by the sudden decrease in volume, none of the guests bothered to inquire about the cause. Instead, they began to mingle among themselves while Katana, hired to document the event, skulked around the edges of the banquet hall with a camera in hand.Seizing the opportunity to do a little mingling himself, Vahn, accompanied by Fenrir, made his way over to the area where a peculiar duo was seated. His approach immediately caught their attention, a smile spreading across the woman's face as a troubled expression marred the teal-haired youth at her side."Lily, Jin, I'm glad the two of you could make it. I see someone decided to loosen the seal I placed on them..."Extending his hand, Vahn habitually caressed the smiling Lily's head. The last time he had seen her, she resembled a ten-year-old girl with a petite frame. Now, she had grown from around 136cm to a commendable 158cm. As for her figure...well, she was the descendant of a Fertility Goddess...Rubbing her head against the palm of Vahn's hand in a somewhat spoiled manner, Lily maintained her usual smile as she explained, "With all the changes that have been occurring recently, I decided it might be for the best if I grow up a bit. How do I look...?"Returning a smile of his own, Vahn ruffled the affectionate fox's hair before retracting his hand and answering, "You could give Black Rabbit a run for her money."While it was generally rude to compare one woman to another, Vahn knew that Lily idolized Black Rabbit's beauty. Moon Rabbits, prior to their destruction, were famous throughout the Little Garden for their appearances so it was quite the compliment to be compared to one. Thus, rather than take offense, Lily's expression brightened considerably as she cupped her reddening cheeks and issued a bashful yet gratified laugh.So things didn't become too awkward, Vahn took advantage of Lily's momentary distraction to shift his attention to Jin, asking, "Why the long face, kid? You look like someone who just found out their dog died."Smiling wryly in response to Vahn's words, Jin's expression became visibly apologetic as he hung his head and answered, "Sorry...I've had a lot on my mind..."Extending his hand, Vahn ruffled the teal-haired youth's hair, a serious expression developing across his face as he said, "Let me share with you a bit of advice I received from one of my first masters..."With Vahn retracting his hand, Jin looked up with a curious yet hopeful look in his eyes, In response, Vahn channeled his best Tsubaki impression as he balled his hand into a fist and said, "You think too much."Before he could react, Vahn gave the top of Jin's head an affectionate bonk. With Lily appearing in her current form, it didn't take a genius to realize what was bothering him. He was clearly troubled by his lack of maturity, and, more importantly, his lack of power. These two things had always been a source of stress for the young mage, so, now that he had three remarkably powerful individuals to compare himself to, it was no surprise he was a little stressed out.Holding the top of his head, tears began to build in the corners of Jin's eyes as he stared up at Vahn like an aggrieved maiden. This gave the latter the urge to give him a second punch. Instead, he just shook his head before ruffling the pouting youth's hair and saying, "When you experience problems you can't overcome on your own, there is no shame in seeking the assistance of others. That is how bonds of trust are formed. Now, tell me, what's the problem?"Feeling the pain in his crown quickly fading away, Jin managed to suppress his tears with a sniffle before explaining everything that had been troubling him. He talked about how powerless he felt, and, most notably, how envious he was of the abilities of Izayoi, Yo, and even Asuka. To others, this might have made him sound petty. Vahn, however, appreciated the youth's honesty. After all, even adults could rarely verbalize everything that was troubling them. Jin was only eleven years old, so, despite his feelings of powerlessness, he was actually ahead of the curve in regards to power and character...After listening to all of the youth's grievances, Vahn nodded his head in understanding before asking, "So, what are you going to do about it...?"Now that he had gotten everything off of his chest, Jin was feeling a lot more confident as he stared up at Vahn and answered, "I want to enter your Game Board. I want to accumulate experience while training my body and mind. I don't care about remaining Leader. So long as I can become someone my Community can rely on, I'll be happy."Though he nodded his head in approval, Vahn shifted his attention to one of the pillars lining the inordinately large banquet hall, asking, "And what about you three...?"Stepping out from behind the pillar, Izayoi had his usual cheeky smile on while Asuka crossed her arms in defiance. As for Yo, she just waved towards Fenrir, who, after exhaling an inaudible sigh, returned a wave of her own."My only question is, will I be able to have fun...?"Having witnessed Izayoi's power firsthand, Vahn briefly adopted a contemplative look as he stroked his chin and answered, " That depends. With your current power, you should be able to reach the bottom floor of the Dungeon in about two and a half years. The biggest issue you'll face is the fact you're a tsundere. Even if it's just an illusion, my Danmachi Game Board is a near-perfect replica of an actual place. Prior to my conquest, there were a lot of people suffering for a variety of different reasons. Given your nature, you won't be able to simply ignore them."Furrowing his brows, Izayoi's expression became slightly hostile as he asserted, "I'm not a tsundere."Ignoring the youth's remark, Vahn shifted his attention to Yo and Asuka, adding, "As for the two of you...you'll have a difficult time depending on the Familia you join. If you choose to stay together, I would suggest the Ganesha Familia. They specialize in taming monsters, mediating between other Familia, and providing entertainment to the people of Orario. Since most of them are beast tamers, their members can be pretty crude. Their God, however, is among the most caring and responsible deities I've ever met. He genuinely cares for the people of Orario and his Captain, Shakti, is a fervent believer in his ideals."Though Asuka didn't seem particularly enthused by the prospect of joining the Ganesha Familia, Yo's eyes had practically turned to stars. The notion of being surrounded by beasts made her as giddy as a kid in a candy store. Sure, they might not be real, but that wouldn't stop her from doing everything in her power to befriend each and every single one of them.As amused as he was by the young brunette's glittery-eyed expression, Vahn shifted his attention back to Jin. The appearance of Izayoi, Asuka, and Yo had caused him to visibly pale. He hadn't even considered that they might want to enter the Game Board alongside him. If they did, all his efforts would, once again, go to waste...Forming his hand into a fist, Vahn gave Jin another 'gentle' knock on the head as he asked, "What's with that expression? You just said you didn't care about being Leader and that you just wanted to become someone your Community can rely upon. Which is it, Jin? Do you want to become reliable or do you simply wish to be stronger than Izayoi, Yo, and Asuka? Make up your mind."Hearing Vahn's words, feelings of guilt and shame pervaded Jin's body. They helped him to realize just how selfish he was being, so, after balling his hands into fists and biting back tears, he adopted a resolute look and asserted, "So long as I can be of use to my Community, I'll be happy..."Nodding his head in approval, Vahn extended his hand to help ease the pain atop Jin's head as he said, "Good. That is the correct mentality. When you get inside the Game Board, I want you to seek out a Goddess named Hestia. She is a bit of an oddball and won't be able to provide you with much in the way of resources, but, so long as you stay resolute, you'll be able to learn more from her than most other Goddesses."With a tremendous amount of knowledge contained within his mind, Jin immediately recognized the name Hestia as the Goddess of the Hearth. This caused a look of realization to flash across his eyes as adopted a far more serious expression and answered, "I understood. No matter how hard the journey ahead becomes, I will continue pressing forward."Though Jin's choice of words caused him to feel strangely guilty, Vahn just nodded his head before retracting his hand and saying, "Very well. For now, everyone should just relax and enjoy the party. Once things have calmed down, I'll go over the specifics regarding the Game Board and everything you'll need to know about its structure and your objectives. After that...you're on your own..."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Banzai~!','Jin is simultaneously very mature and very childish...','I can totally see Izayoi going toe-to-toe with Ottar within the first two weeks xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2135: Subtle Yet Drastic Changes