Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though they each had rooms of their own, Asuka, Yo, Lily, and the tiny Earth Spirit chose to stay in the same suite. The bed within was large enough to accommodate ten people comfortably, so they just needed to be careful of rolling onto Lily's tails or inadvertently squashing their little faerie friend.
Thanks to a bushel of golden apples and a functionally bottomless teapot provided by Vahn, Asuka had quickly overcome her nausea. She had also gradually come to terms with the events that had transpired earlier in the afternoon but still felt compelled to ask, "Yo, about what you said before. You know, the thing about you loving me..."
Adopting a beaming smile, Yo leaned her head back against Asuka. The latter had been brushing her hair, so Yo was able to conveniently recline against Asuka's breasts as she answered, "I meant it. I don't think we can become lovers, but I never want us to separate. You're my first and best human friend, and I want us to remain together always."
Exhaling a sigh, Asuka adopted an ostensibly helpless expression as she reached up to gingerly caress the sides of Yo's face, a faint smile on her face as she said, "I also want us to stay together. However, I'm not sure how things will work out with both of us loving different men. Izayoi may be a perverted brute, but he is also reliable. Ever since he saved us back in the Game Board, my heart has followed him wherever he goes. Unless he went out of his way to betray me, I don't think I could ever stop loving him..."
Recalling the incident Asuka was referencing, Yo simply nodded. Izayoi had stepped in when the two of them were being accosted by members of the Apollo Familia. Apollo had taken an interest in their abilities pretty early on, so he conspired to try and forcibly recruit them. Izayoi stepped in, and, as a result, he ended up being forced to flee the city after wiping out the Apollo Familia.
Following Izayoi's departure, Asuka had worked tirelessly to increase her influence and clear his name. She ultimately failed in her goal of becoming Governess of Orario, but the experience had all but solidified her views on the rather roguish hero...
Having been paying close attention to the conversation, Lily chimed in to say, "I think you may be overcomplicating things, Asuka. I can't really see Vahn-sama or Izayoi-san becoming upset even if you and Yo entered into a relationship. Vahn-sama only wants the people around him to be happy, and Izayoi-san is more likely to joke about it than take offense."
Furrowing her brows, Asuka remarked, "That may be the case. However, it is the principle of the matter that concerns me. If Izayoi were to cheat on me with another person, be they man or woman, I'm not sure I could ever forgive him. As fond...as much as I love Yo, it would be hypocritical of me to hold him to a higher standard than myself..."
Though Asuka's words caused her to feel a little empty inside, Yo could understand what she was saying. It wasn't that Asuka didn't want to be together with her; she just didn't want to hurt Izayoi.
Thinking of solutions, Yo briefly humored the idea of asking Vahn if it was okay if she entered into a relationship with Izayoi. She got the impression he would be okay with it, but, at the same time, Yo felt a strange feeling of anxiety just thinking about being with someone other than Vahn.
Dismissing the idea nearly as quickly as she had thought of it, Yo rose to a seated position before half-turning to face Asuka as she said, "So long as we can be together like this, I'm happy. I just don't want us to grow apart and be unable to share things like we do now. Even if we both got married and started families, I would rather we raise our children together than be separated..."
Feeling her heart melt, Asuka muttered, "Oh, Yo...even after all this time, you're still so precious. Come here..."
Inviting Yo into her embrace, Asuka gave the comparably busty brunette a firm hug as she quietly added, "I can promise you this...no matter what happens with Vahn and Izayoi, our bond will remain eternal. You are like a little sister to me...no, something much, much more..."
Though she didn't go for the lips, Asuka planted a chaste yet lasting kiss on the nape of Yo's neck. Her feeling towards the latter were nearly as strong as Yo's towards her. She just didn't have what it took to abandon her principles and live a life without inhibitions. In that respect, she and Yo were polar opposites. It just so happened that opposites attracted...
...
..
.
After stepping in to prevent her from being captured by Izayoi, Maxwell, the Demon Lord of Thermodynamics, hurled the body of the scantily clad blonde in front of a petite demoness with short purple hair, saying, "Keep your pets in line. The Game hasn't even started, but one of your members nearly got taken out. Our Master will not tolerate a second mistake."
Squinting her blood-red eyes, the petite demoness began to discharge a hazy black mist from the inordinately large and frilly sleeves adorning her slender arms. She, like most people, had never liked Maxwell. He wasn't even her direct superior, so she didn't delay in sending the black mist to swirl around him as she said, "Leave."
"Black Percher! You ungrateful wench...!"
Gathering heat in his right hand and cold in his left, Maxwell was prepared to teach the lower-ranked Demon Lord a lesson when a soft voice echoed from the void, stating, "Maxwell, I wish to speak with you. Attend me."
Though the voice radiated no anger or hostility, everyone within the room tensed. Even the scantily clad woman on the ground awoke from her deep state of unconsciousness, goose pimples breaking out across her body as she contemplated prostrating herself and apologizing for her failure.
As if the owner of the voice could read her mind, it assured her, "There is no need for you to apologize, Ratten. The appearance of the Sage Dragon Emperor has obfuscated matters in a way even I couldn't divine. For now, just focus on supporting your Master. As for you, Black Percher, continue according to the original plan."
Cupping her hands together despite her oversized sleeves, Black Percher respectfully lowered her head as she said, "Very well, Master. I will do as you command."
Though no one could see the voice's owner, everyone in the room got the impression it had just nodded. It was like an aura of affirmation had filled the room, drastically improving the morale of everyone present. The only exception was Maxwell, who, prior to his departure, directed a disgusted, hate-filled glare towards Black Percher and Ratten.
...
..
.
After pacifying Shiroyasha and accompanying her back to the Thousand Eyes Branch, Vahn spent some time restoring the Chamber of Flames to its original state before renewing the flow of time. When he did, Sandora immediately started sniffing at the air, her face turning a little red as she noted, "Shiroyasha-sama is missing, and the air suddenly smells cleaner than before..."
Directing her crystalline blue eyes to Vahn, Sandora's expression became serious as she said, "Please tell me Shiroyasha-sama didn't do anything to my body when you stopped time..."
"What...?"
Though he understood why Sandora might ask such a question, Vahn was still a little taken aback by it. Shiroyasha had endeavored to 'prank' him by pulling Sandora into their flow of time, but he would never allow anything like what she was currently thinking to occur.
Learning everything she needed to know from Vahn's reaction, Sandora exhaled a sigh of relief. She would trust Shiroyasha with her life, but she was well aware of the Eastern Floor Master's eccentricities; they weren't exactly a secret.
"Sorry, Vahn. I'm just feeling a little befuddled due to Shiroyasha-sama's previous remark. She offered to let me piggyback her consciousness so I could experience what the two of you were going to do together. Though I refused, I would be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little curious..."
Shaking her head, Sandora attempted to clear her wayward thoughts. She didn't want Vahn to think she was a desperate or perverted girl.
Seeing through Sandora's thoughts, Vahn's expression visibly softened as he exhaled a sigh through his nose.
Only a few days had passed since Vahn's arrival in the North. However, thanks to his gratuitous manipulation of time, several months had passed since his initial encounter with Sandora. This included nearly two months with Sandora herself, so his views towards her had already changed quite a bit. He still felt she had a lot of maturing to do, but there was no reason they couldn't just expedite the process.
"Sandora..."
Feeling shivers pass through her body due to Vahn's soft yet resonating tone, Sandora found herself unable to speak as she turned to meet his luminous, aquamarine eyes. When he grabbed her hand, she felt a wave of warmth spread through her body that was only exacerbated when he said, "I feel like visiting one of my Actualized Worlds. Will you come with me...?"
Opening her mouth, Sandora's first instinct was to ask about the Festival of the Fire Dragon, but, knowing what she knew about Vahn's Actualized Worlds, they could spend a lifetime inside and still return before morning.
Without having to consider her response for too long, Sandora adopted a faint yet excited smile as she asked, "Where are we going...?"
...
..
.
Though Sandora would have been fine with finding a place to settle down in the mountains, Vahn wanted to bolster her confidence and give her the opportunity to experience a grand adventure. He also wanted to create a unique experience for just the two of them, so he ended up taking her to an Actualized World known as the Ghibliverse. More specifically, he took her into the world of a game known as Ni No Kuni II.
While the story of Ni No Kuni II took place over several months, it had a kingdom-building aspect that spanned generations. The world itself was also remarkably similar to the North Side as there were vast, open plains and countless Elemental Spirits known as Higgledies roaming around. As for the civilization level, it varied quite a bit as the setting combined the fantasy tropes of excavating ancient yet highly-advanced technology and summoning Heroes from modern and futuristic worlds.
Sandora initially struggled due to the drastic disparity between her power in the North Side and her abilities within the Ghibliverse. Fortunately, she had Vahn there to help acclimate her to a brand new system of magic. He had also placed them at a point seven months before the start of the main story, so they had plenty of time to both adapt and simply live together.
Though things became a little complicated when one of the Heroines, a girl named Tani, started imprinting on Vahn, the latter managed to steer her back towards her intended love interest, a boy named Evan, using a bit of fate manipulation. He ended up feeling a little guilty about it, but he hadn't entered the Actualized World with the intent of having yet another young girl imprint on him. He was there to spend time with Sandora, so that was exactly what he did.
In the end, Vahn and Sandora spent close to seven years helping Evan and Tani build and expand their kingdom before choosing to return. They had already informed the residents of Ni No Kuni that they were travelers from another world, so the parting wasn't nearly as sad as it could have been. The only complication was Sandora promising they would return if the Kingdom were ever imperiled. Since Vahn had knowledge of the entire timeline from the outside, he and Sandora ended up having to return three times just to prevent her from being a liar...
...
..
.
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Asuka is a woman of principle...','Maxwell is slowly building his Aggro...','Vahn takes promises very seriously xD...')

"We're back..."
Staring down at her hands, Sandora slowly opened and closed them a few times, a pensive expression on her face as Vahn answered, "Indeed. What did you think...?"
Closing her hands as if she were grasping something, Sandora replied, "I think I understand why you're so...casual about everything. The ability to create worlds and stretch a single moment into eternity is both terrifying and liberating..."
Shifting her gaze to Vahn, Sandora's expression softened into a smile as she supplemented, "It almost makes the circumstances of a singular life feel insignificant...almost..."
Though she suspected her opinion might irreversibly change if she stayed in the Actualized World, seven and a half years wasn't a particularly long period in the grand scheme of things.
Extending her left hand towards Vahn, Sandora waited for him to help her rise before playfully questioning, "I trust you're satisfied with my growth, Prime Minister Mason~?"
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn drew Sandora close to him, her feet dangling off the ground as he lifted her petite body to plant a kiss on her lips. He and Sandora had already crossed the line during their stay in Ni No Kuni. Though he would prefer it if she used her engagement ring to transform into her third developmental stage, he didn't particularly mind her current form. She was small and dainty but nowhere near the level of girls like Liliruca, Kali, or select members of the Eurasia Family...
With Vahn supporting her by her butt, Sandora's body began to heat up much faster than she had anticipated. The form she had assumed in the Actualized World had also been a Dragon, but the relatively weak power scaling of the world had made it easy to suppress her instincts. Now that she was in her original form after more than seven years, she felt like she was on the verge of losing control just being near Vahn.
Fearful that she might inadvertently turn the Chamber of Flames into a literal inferno, Sandora lightly tapped Vahn's chest. She didn't have the willpower to break the kiss herself, so she needed him to stop and give her a chance to speak.
Fortunately for Sandora, Vahn only continued for a few seconds longer before slowly separating from her lips. He could have stopped instantly, but he didn't want to seem too eager to stop. He could also sense that Sandora hadn't wanted him to, so, even after suspending their kiss, he continued supporting her by her pillowy bottom as he teased, "Getting cold feet...?"
Though her face was flushed red to the tips of her ears and the base of her neck, Sandora managed to appear calm as she whispered, "I want to wait until after the coronation ceremony..."
Raising his brows, Vahn was about to ask if she was sure, but Sandora beat him to the punch, stating, "If we start now, it will be weeks before I manage to calm down and recover my senses. You've already afforded me 2740 days of your time. I can wait a few hours before surrendering myself anew..."
Seeing the resolution in Sandora's eyes, Vahn's ostensibly wolfish smile relaxed into an affectionate twinkle as he replied, "Marvelous...even after seven years in a completely different world, you haven't lost sight of your duties and responsibilities as the Leader of Salamandra. You really are an amazing person, Sandora..."
Delighted by Vahn's compliment, a remarkably radiant and charming smile developed across Sandora's face as she countered, "I have to be if I want to continue standing next to a certain someone..."
Since she couldn't reach Vahn's lips of her own accord, Sandora nestled her head against his chest. Her crown and horns got in the way, but that was easily remedied when Vahn adjusted the state of his body to allow them to phase through him...
...
..
.
Though the remainder of his evening with Sandora was remarkably calm and relaxing, other versions of Vahn were busy catching up with the rest of his harem.
Back when he first started delving into Actualized Worlds, Vahn promised to update the 'Council of Wives' whenever he spent more than six months within one. They were perennially concerned about his mental health and well-being, so even if he just lazed about and observed others for a few months, Vahn made sure to notify them after the fact.
If there was anything Vahn could complain about regarding the situation, it was the fact Da Vinci had developed a protocol for his return. It saved him a lot of time, but he couldn't help feeling as though something was a little off whenever Da Vinci provided him an itinerary informing him when, where, and who to visit. All Vahn needed to do was provide her with the details of his time in the Actualized World, and she would know precisely who he needed to interact with to recenter himself in the shortest amount of time.
When Da Vinci first started providing him with structured itineraries, Vahn deviated from them quite a bit. He wanted to check up on and spend time with everyone but quickly came to realize he was inconveniencing certain people by dropping in out of nowhere.
No one ever complained, but Vahn could see the effects his sudden and unexpected arrival had on whatever objective they were trying to achieve. Not everyone could just drop whatever they were doing, go on a romantic tryst, and then return without some change in mentality or motivation, so, after disrupting quite a number of plans, Vahn began sticking to Da Vinci's schedule. It made him a little uncomfortable, but he knew it was the best decision if he was serious about supporting everyone's independence...
...
..
.
With the majority of his other selves dissipating, a relieved sigh escaped Vahn's mouth as the burden on his mental faculties lessened by several orders of magnitude. The only versions of him still active were his current self, the one sleeping next to Semiramis, and the lucky fool cuddling with Fenrir and the members of his Menagerie.
Reacting to Vahn's sigh, Sandora promptly opened her eyes before rising from his chest, rubbing her eyes, and staring at the nearest clock. It was only 3:23 AM, but she quickly decided she had slept long enough as she turned towards Vahn, smiling as she leaned over and whispered, "Good morning..." before planting a kiss on his lips. Then, without thinking, her hand habitually gravitated towards the appendage slumbering between his thighs before Vahn grabbed her wrist and reminded, "We're no longer in Ni No Kuni..."
Though she was momentarily confused by Vahn's words, Sandora's face quickly developed a blush as she retracted her hand and said, "I suppose we'll have to revert to our old tradition..."
Mounting Vahn's stomach, Sandora, completely naked, bent down to give Vahn a particularly passionate kiss. Shortly before her loss of virginity in the world of Ni No Kuni, she and Vahn had developed the habit of kissing before and after sleep. She had since then grown accustomed to far more intimate acts, but kissing was still at the top of her list in regards to things she enjoyed the most.
After a prolonged, forty-minute makeout session, Vahn and Sandora took a long bath together before he kissed her goodbye and turned her over to Ebony and Raven. He and Shiroyasha had been asked to participate in the day's events as Guests of Honor, so he needed to meet up with Sandora's brother, Mandra, and the other event organizers.
Upon seeing Vahn appear out of thin air, the event organizers and several Military Police immediately put up their guards. Before any of them could even think about attacking, however, Mandra shouted, "The Sage Dragon Emperor has arrived! Kneel!"
Setting the example, Mandra promptly dropped to one knee, the knuckles of his right hand touching the floor as he lowered his head and said, "Your Imperial Majesty honors us with Your presence."
Resisting the urge to exhale a sigh, Vahn waited for everyone present to lower themselves before nodding his head in approval and saying, "Rise. We have not come here to observe etiquette or put on airs. Tell us what you require."
Though he had been speaking in the Majestic Plural, Vahn's words lost a bit of their gravitas when Shiroyasha spontaneously manifested to his left, adding, "What he said."
"By your will!"
Rising to his feet, Mandra maintained a commanding aura as he looked towards his recently appointed Secretary, Frey, and ordered, "Escort the Sage Dragon Emperor and Lady Shiroyasha to their positions. If there is anything they require, fulfill their requests to the best of your ability."
Bowing forward and cupping her hands together, Frey replied with a curt, "Understood." before approaching Vahn and Shiroyasha, adding, "Please, follow me." in a markedly more nervous tone.
Voicing the thought lingering in the back of Vahn's mind, Shiroyasha's cat-like eyes practically lit up when she saw Frey, remarking, "Very, very nice. Is that Dragonscale armor? I assume it would have to be considering how little it covers..."
Unlike when Frey had first appeared, dressed much like a schoolgirl, her current outfit resembled that of a Dragon Knight. What made it stand out was that it was comprised of crimson scales fashioned into a scant, highly revealing breastplate that emphasized her cleavage and navel rather than covering them. The rest of her outfit wasn't much better, consisting of red pauldrons, scaled gauntlets, and leg platings that left her upper thigh and much of her butt exposed. There was a cloth covering her crotch and two more covering her backside, but they were more decoration than practical due to her inordinately thick tail. As for what lay below? The best way to describe it was a leather thong.
Though the tip of her tail curled slightly, Frey appeared relatively calm even as Shiroyasha stepped around to get a better look at her backside. In response to the previous question, she answered, "It is the Ancestral Armor of the Scarlett Family. The materials used are, as you pointed out, Dragonscale, Sinew, and Hide. It is designed to be indestructible yet easy to move in..."
"I'll say..."
Resisting the urge to raise Frey's tail and bury her face between the stoic woman's pert and perky glutes, Shiroyasha finished her circumnavigation before returning to Vahn's side and gesturing for him to lower his head so she could whisper in his ear. She was currently in her diminutive, child-like form, so he was nearly 50cm taller than her.
Closing his eyes to prevent others from seeing him roll them, Vahn bent down to hear Shiroyasha ask, "What do you think about having a little fun with this one? She is literally dripping pheromones, and I can pretty much guarantee she would be happier serving the Sage Dragon's Hearth than trying to restore her family's honor under Mandra."
Realizing that Shiroyasha was projecting her voice into his ear rather than speaking out loud, Vahn resisted the urge to ask why she bothered having him lean down as he replied, "I can't help everyone. Frey might not be the happiest she could be serving Mandra, but it's a decision-"
Completing Vahn's words for him, albeit in a very different manner than he intended, Shiroyasha stated, "It's a decision her family and circumstances forced into her. Do not mistake resolve and pertinacity as contentedness, boya. There is a reason she decided to wear this outfit, and you know it..."
Though the truth of the matter was that Frey's father had entreated her to try and win Vahn's favor, Shiroyasha knew it wouldn't matter once she had obtained it. Once Vahn got involved, the machinations of Frey's father and uncle wouldn't matter in the slightest.
Matching Shiroyasha's expectations, Vahn silently entreated Loi-chan to explain the situation. When he learned about some of the things Frey had and was currently going through, his expression briefly darkened. Due to his stopping of time, however, no one noticed it except for Shiroyasha...
...
..
.
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn, God of Infinite Possibilities and Patron God of Lolis xD...','Da Vinci strikes again...!','No tragic girls left behind...')

Entering the Chamber of Flames, Asuka was the first to speak, asking, "Where are Yo and Lily...?" in a flat but audibly concerned tone.
Turning her head up, Sandora, who was currently sharing her throne with Vahn, remarked, "I'm not entirely sure, but I'm certain Vahn knows."
Nodding his head, Vahn briefly exchanged glances with Izayoi before meeting Asuka's gaze and answering, "They're right here."
Immediately following Vahn's words, Lily and Yo appeared out of thin air. Thanks to his ability to manipulate time, he could extend the brief moment between his words and their appearance to infinity. Thus, even though Yo and Lily had been 'preoccupied' at the time of Asuka's inquiry, they were able to appear composed and unflustered after being allowed ample time to collect themselves.
"Asuka~!"
Seeing Asuka, Yo's face lit up as she trotted over to give her first and best friend a hug. Asuka was pretty used to this, so she happily accepted Yo's affections with a gentle smile.
Though the scene seemed relatively wholesome at first, everyone, even Vahn, was surprised when Yo suddenly kissed the bewildered Asuka. The latter's eyes widened as round as saucers, but due to the rather drastic difference between her and Yo's strength, she wasn't able to break free as quickly as she would have liked.
"What the heck...?"
Instead of stepping in to save his girlfriend from Yo's sudden assault, Izayoi shifted his attention to Vahn, asking, "What did you do to Yo...?" with an incredulous yet curious look on his face.
Returning to his senses in response to Izayoi's question, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he answered, "I liberated her...?" in an uncharacteristically uncertain tone. Yo had informed him that she would no longer hold herself back, but this was outside even his expectations. He didn't particularly mind Yo kissing or doing even 'more' with Asuka; the problem was that Asuka was in a relationship with Izayoi.
Fortunately, at least this time around, Yo didn't take things further than kissing. She did, however, continue kissing Asuka for the better part of a minute and a half before releasing her lips, adopting a radiant smile, and saying, "Thanks for becoming my friend and always being here to support me. I know you're happy with Izayoi, but I just wanted you to know that I really, really love you. You're my best friend, and I cherish every moment we spend together."
Though her brain had short-circuited due to Yo's surprisingly passionate canoodling, Asuka quickly regained her wits when she heard the bubbly brunette's words.
"Yo..."
Shifting her attention to Izayoi, Asuka's expression went from conflicted to moderately annoyed when he promptly raised his hands and said, "Why are you looking at me? I had no hand in this."
Rolling her eyes, Asuka returned her gaze to Yo, a potent heat spreading through her cheeks as she answered, "I love you too, Yo. However, I do-"
Before Asuka could finish speaking, Yo, in her excitement, started kissing her anew. This time, however, the two girls ended up tumbling over, Asuka pinned beneath Yo as the overly affectionate eagerly sought her lips.
Realizing he should probably intervene, Vahn rose from Sandora's throne but was stalled when Izayoi waved him down, saying, "Hey now, no need to rush. There's a pretty good chance this is just a one-time thing. I vote we enjoy the show and let things take their course."
Hearing Izayoi's remark, Asuka groaned in frustration. She knew he was a pervert, but preventing Vahn from stepping in to aid her was a bit much. If Yo weren't the one kissing her, she would probably wring his neck the first chance she got. As for why she didn't just avert her head to the side and break the kiss? It was complicated.
Unfortunately for Izayoi, Vahn ignored his suggestion, appearing next to the two girls as he whispered, "Yo..." in a soft yet authoritative tone.
"Mnn...?"
Releasing Asuka's lips, Yo sat atop her in a straddling posture before wiping her mouth and asking, "What's up?" in a curious tone. Then, as if she had realized what Vahn was thinking, she furrowed her brows into a slight pout as she said, "I don't think Asuka or Izayoi would be okay with you kissing her..."
Having opened his mouth to respond to Yo's first question, Vahn found himself, momentarily with a slackjawed expression on his face. It quickly reverted to a smile, but there was a moderate amount of exasperation in his tone as he said, "You shouldn't kiss people without permission. Even if they offer little to no resistance, it doesn't indicate consent."
"Eh...?"
Shifting her gaze from Vahn to Asuka, Yo decided to question the target of her affections directly, asking, "Did I do something wrong...?" in a soft, audibly apologetic tone.
Instead of immediately responding to Yo, Asuka cast an accusatory glare in Vahn's direction before adopting a gentle smile and saying, "I wouldn't say you did anything wrong, per se. However, Vahn isn't wrong when he said you should have petitioned my consent. For now, how about you get off of me? We can talk about this later, in private."
Though she felt a sensation akin to suffocation, Yo responded to Asuka's words with a nod before bouncing to her feet and helping the latter stand.
Noticing the traces of discomfort visible in Yo's usually bubbly expression, it was Asuka's turn to feel guilty. She knew Yo hadn't meant any harm, so it felt wrong to even consider chastising her. After all, Yo was just showing how much she loved her...
Fortunately for Asuka, Vahn freed her from the responsibility by wrapping his hand around Yo's waist, planting a kiss atop her head, and whispering, "The thing about freedom is that it's a very personal thing. Your version of freedom doesn't apply to everyone, Yo. As suffocating as restrictions feel to you, they provide comfort to others..."
Caressing Yo's face with his left hand, Vahn guided her to meet his gaze, but before he could continue his words of love and reassurance, Asuka stepped in, her face beet red as she shouted, "Don't even think about it!"
Furrowing his brows, Vahn looked towards the former heiress and asked, "Have you lost your mind? Who are you-"
Interrupting Vahn's rebuke, Izayoi's expression was uncharacteristically serious as he explained, "She doesn't want to share an indirect kiss with you. Let it go, old man."
Widening his eyes, Vahn's expression went from annoyance to surprise as he shifted his gaze from Izayoi to Asuka's faintly swollen lips. At the same time, quite a number of relatively recent memories surfaced from the back of his mind&mdash;memories of the things he and Yo had been doing just hours prior.
Though she was more than a little temperamental, Asuka was still a very sharp woman. Her intuition and ability to read others had been cultivated over years of navigating high society and conducting business. Vahn was also like an open book to people he didn't recognize as an enemy, so she immediately understood what he was thinking when his eyes deviated to her lips.
"I think I'm going to be sick..."
While she had secretly enjoyed Yo's kiss quite a bit, Asuka began feeling sick to her stomach the more she thought about the implications behind Vahn's glance. It didn't help that Yo had actually confided in her many of the things she wanted to try once her relationship with Vahn had finally moved forward...
...
..
.
With Asuka feeling ill, Sandora suggested that everyone return to their rooms. The matter that had transpired at the Corridor of Displays wasn't something they could resolve through talking, so there was no reason to stick around unless they wanted Vahn to reveal everything he knew.
Fortunately, the identity of the faerie was something he could disclose without really revealing anything as it simply didn't have a name. It was just a young Earth Spirit belonging to the Rattenf&auml;nger Community.
The most interesting thing about the tiny earth spirit, or, more accurately, the Community it belonged to, was that it didn't exist before the start of the Festival of the Fire Dragon. Salamandra kept detailed records of their affiliates, so it was a pretty major gaffe that a Community had effectively appeared out of thin air yet was included in their ranks.
Though Vahn could have revealed the culprit to be Mandra, Sandora was determined to uncover the truth for herself. Thus, for the remainder of the day and much of the evening, she mobilized the forces of Salamandra to increase security and try to resolve the matter prior to her Coronation and the Festival's conclusion.
With Mandra supporting her from the shadows, Sandora was able to make fairly decent progress in a remarkably short period of time. Unfortunately, she was compelled to stop when a very important guest arrived from the East, Shiroyasha.
...
..
.
"I see the two of you are getting along splendidly."
As the Floor Master asked to oversee Sandora's ascension, Shiroyasha was always going to attend the Festival of the Fire Dragon. She had even told Vahn as such, but he suspected she may have changed her mind due to her late arrival.
It was, unsurprisingly, very difficult to know what Shiroyasha was thinking without asking her directly.
Unaware of just how involved Shiroyasha was in her engagement to Vahn, Sandora had momentarily reverted to her veil of regality, her back straight and voice perfectly poised as she replied, "Yes. His Imperial Majesty, the Sage Dragon Emperor, has been nothing but caring and considerate since his arrival. To that end, I would like to thank you on behalf of the entirety of Salamandra. Shiroyasha-sama's willingness to act as an intermediary has benefited us tremendously."
Amused by Sandora's response, Shiroyasha covered the lower half of her face with a fan, an impish snicker emanating from her throat. Before she could even think about teasing the delightful dragoness, however, Vahn interjected, saying, "Though she is markedly more independent than the majority of women in my harem, Shiroyasha is undoubtedly a part of it. In fact, she had been contributing to its growth quite a bit since my arrival in the Divine Realm..."
Recalling that Vahn had mentioned something similar during their first few days together, a look of understanding developed across Sandora's face as she adopted a slight pout and growled, "Shiroyasha-sama..."
Rolling her eyes, Shiroyasha snapped her fan shut, saying, "Don't give me that look, brat. If anything, you were right to be thanking me. The moment you break down this idiot's defenses, you're going to experience a degree of pleasure others can't even imagine. If you thought that massage was a game-changer, you're underestimating the lengths Vahn is willing to go to for his women."
Since the cat was already out of the bag, Shiroyasha fearlessly sauntered over to Vahn, a mischievous smile on her face as she mewled, "Perhaps a demonstration is in order~?"
Though she had been keeping it a secret, Shiroyasha promptly grew to her adult form by the time she had reached Vahn. He didn't resist as she linked her arms around his neck and shoulders, but his voice was firm as he answered, "I'll consider it once we return from the Game Board."
"My point exactly..."
Swatting Vahn's hands away before he could grasp her butt, Shiroyasha separated from him before taking a seat next to Sandora and whispering something into her ear. The young dragoness's face immediately turned red, illusory steam rising from her head as she averted her eyes and said, "I could never do such a thing..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Shiroyasha remarked, "Your loss." before rising to her feet, staring at Vahn, and asking, "We doing this or what?" with her brows raised.
Exhaling a sigh, Vahn briefly closed his eyes, the flow of time coming to a sudden and spontaneous halt before he subsequently opened them, met Shiroyasha's gaze, and asked, "What are you up to?"
Adopting her characteristically mischievous smile, Shiroyasha retorted, "If you're that eager to know, feel free to use that ability of yours. I have very different priorities at the moment."
Though it had only been a few days since their last encounter, Shiroyasha had been feeling an itch that only Vahn could scratch. Watching him go to town on Yo, Lily, Semiramis, and quite a number of other girls had caused her tensions to increase to a dangerous level. Thus, even though Sandora was frozen in time less than a meter away, Shiroyasha shed her lavender kimono and declared, "My previous question was more of a courtesy than anything else. We are, most definitely, doing this..."
...
..
.
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Did anyone else see this coming...?','When Asuka realizes the reason Yo's saliva tastes sweet...','Yo isn't the only one lacking in inhibitions...')

Chapter 2274: Compromise