Chapter 130: Rumors Abound
Vahn helped both Tiona and Ais recover their strength before cleaning up the interior of the cave and preparing to head back to the City. At this point, it was in the middle of the afternoon, and they still had more than enough time to return to the City before the gates closed. Though they still made a quick pace on their way back, the trio took time to enjoy the scenery along the way. Vahn found the two girls to look even more beautiful than they had been previously, and even he felt like there was an extra firmness in his own stride.
Whenever they found something interesting, they would stop and rest for a bit, and Vahn got to experience a new sensation that made his heart aflutter with all kinds of emotions. When he had sat on a large rock overlooking the scenery looking down on Orario in the distance, both girls flanked him and leaned against his shoulders. Being sandwiched between the two women he had just recently had sex with, Vahn felt like he could suddenly overcome anything the future might hold.
After getting side-tracked several times after that, they finally arrived at the gates of the City just as the sky was beginning to grow slightly darker. Vahn escorted the two all the way to their Familia, and even though he never expected them to keep things a secret, Vahn was surprised when both Tiona and Ais gave him a kiss within the reception area of the Twilight Manor. Everyone in the area started at the display in mock horror while some guys even had mortified expressions on their face.
Tiona had been very passionate when she kissed him, and Vahn almost felt like she was trying to make sure everyone in the area was aware of their relationship. She left no room for questions as she continued the kiss him deeply for nearly an entire minute as people gawked at the sight. When she finally pulled away and gave him a happy smile as she practically 'danced' away, Vahn was almost overwhelmed by the urge to chase after her.
Before he was able to make the decision himself, against any expectations the crowd may have had after watching Tiona, Ais stepped forward and gave him a hug. She didn't immediately kiss him, but looked around the area a bit and stared at the onlookers. After letting her gaze wander around the room for a moment, Ais leaned forward and gave Vahn a deep kiss. It wasn't as 'passionate' as Tiona's, but it was still a mind-numbing experience for Vahn.
However, while Vahn was enjoying the situation, everyone else seemed to be blown away by what was transpiring. They couldn't believe that the 'untouchable princess' that everyone had failed to court was suddenly kissing a boy in public. Not to mention, just prior to this, he had even kissed another one of the highly sought after members of the Familia. They felt a grave injustice and, without his intentions on his part, Vahn suddenly made a few enemies within the Loki Familia.
The moment Ais pulled away, some of them were preparing to approach Vahn for a 'talk', but in the brief moment, since the kiss had ended, Ais did something completely unexpected. After she pulled away slightly and saw Vahn's 'silly' look, she leaned her head forward and licked him on the mouth before separating from his body. Not only Vahn, but everyone in the area froze after experiencing the incongruous sight.
The reception area, which had more than twenty people, was now utterly silent as Ais began walking away from Vahn. Seemingly aware of the atmosphere, just before she disappeared through a set of doors, Ais turned around and made eye contact with Vahn. Due to the silence of the room, her words sounded like an explosion in the minds of everyone present as she said, "It was very pleasant...we should do it again soon." With those words, Ais blushed a bit before disappearing through the double-doors.
A few seconds after her figure vanished, Vahn suddenly felt a powerful animosity coming from his surroundings and he could see the auras of several people darken as they looked toward him. Though he was somewhat embarrassed by the previous situation, Vahn refused to back down after seeing the looks on their faces. Furrowing his brows and forming a fierce expression on his face, Vahn expanded his domain to compass the entire area as he scanned his eyes across each person with a dark aura.
Seeing the boy they were about to 'question' suddenly turn toward them with fierce expressions. The men that fell into his sights felt a cold sweat on their backs as his 'evil' green eyes scanned their bodies. After passing over every person present, Vahn spoke in a low and firm tone that sounded throughout the entire area, "If you think you have what it takes, come at me whenever you want. But, even if you defeat me, it doesn't mean you'll ever have a chance with the two of them. Prepare yourselves for pain if you choose to do something foolish."
Though there were several powerful people in the Loki Familia, it didn't mean everyone was powerful. Most of the people present were only around level 2 while only a few were level 3. Feeling the pressure of his domain, none of them could keep eye contact for more than a few seconds when he stared them down. Vahn, seeing them look away, could understand why they had never been able to move the hearts of Tiona or Ais. It made him feel a bit more prideful about his own actions, and he turned away from the slack-jawed crowd with a confident expression on his face. It wasn't until he had long exited the room that the pressure from his domain finally released the people he had locked on to.
One slightly older adventurer, probably in his mid-twenties, asked in a trembling voice, "W-who the hell was that kid...?" As one of the higher leveled adventurers in the area, the man, who was nearing level 4, had been one of the people intending to teach Vahn a lesson. Though he was much older than them both, he had tried courting Tiona and Ais in the past. Seeing a kid accomplish something he was unable, he didn't make any efforts in hiding his resentment for the boy. This caused Vahn to focus his attention on the man for a long period of time, and any thoughts he had of opposing Vahn were completely suppressed. He felt like, if he tried to get in the way of the green-eyed demon, he would never have the opportunity to reach Level 4.
Shortly after the event ended, rumors started spreading around in the Loki Familia with an insuppressible force. The fact Tiona and Ais made no efforts to conceal the facts, allowed people to substantiate the information they received, so it quickly began to spread outside the walls of the Twilight Manor before disseminating throughout the rest of the City. Before the sun had even set, the rumor had reached all the major social hubs in the City, and everyone began looking into the origins of the green-eyed kid that had 'stolen' two of the most sought-after prizes of many peoples dreams. They quickly learned who he was, and the fact the boy was the 'Vulcan' that had become famous only recently made many people that harbored ill intent for him previously begin discussing in a fervent manner how they would deal with the 'greedy wanna-be heroic child'.
Fortunately, the rumors weren't only heard by those with bad intentions, as many people that had grown fond of Vahn began singing high praises of him. The 'heroic feat' he had accomplished became a new legend for the young 'Vulcan', and many men even toasted his 'achievements' while speaking fervently about their own heated youths. The rumors even reached some of the newer Familia that had yet to settle properly within the City, and a black-haired eastern God suddenly felt a renewed desire to meet the supposed 'hero' he had heard so much about.
---
Vahn, completely unaware of the chaotic wave he had caused in the City, made his way back to his home before stopping at Tsubaki's to check up on Lili and Naaza. The moment he stepped through the threshold of the door, Vahn was surprised to find that Tsubaki wasn't present in the reception area. Following his intuition, he made his way toward the dining area where he assumed they would be present. His guess ended up being correct, but instead of the three girls he expected, there was five present.
Tsubaki, Lili, and Naaza were all sitting around the table, and they looked toward Vahn as he entered with various different expressions. The two other women noticed his entrance and turned their heads to look in his direction. Vahn could see the more mature red-haired woman look at him with a bit of grievance and blame in her expression. The smaller of the two red-haired figures seemed to have a mischevious look on her face and started to laugh the moment she noticed Vahn's arrival.
Indeed, the two unexpected guests were both Hephaestus and Loki. Vahn had an uncomfortable feeling in his heart when he saw the 'sad' look of Hephaestus. However, seeing the 'playful' look of Loki actually made him feel a little ticked off so he couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing here Loki?" Loki didn't seem to be offended by his 'rude' words as she just continued to laugh before patting the area next to her. "Come on, Vahn~! We were just talking about you; what perfect timing!"
Seeing how unphased she was, Vahn felt a bit of fear welling up in his heart as he looked at the expressions of everyone present. Tsubaki, unlike her normal self, seemed to be a bit 'annoyed' at the moment, while both Lili and Naaza had faces of worry mixed with a hint of frustration. Hephaestus had the most 'grim' and 'tired' expression of everyone at the table as she released a sigh and said, "Vahn, go ahead and sit down. There are some matters we need to discuss."
Though Vahn had several questions, he realized that everything was happening was likely related to his actions earlier in the day. He had sworn to face the consequences, so without hesitation, he occupied the spot in between Loki and Hephaestus. Before he was able to get comfortable, Loki, against his expectations, leaned against Vahn and took a deep whiff of his body. As if confirming something, she began to laugh in her characteristic mischevious manner, "Hehehehe, you have a much more manly smell now. But, it can't hide the fragrance of the two women that is coming from your body. So, how was it Vahn? Did you enjoy having sex with two girls at the same time~?"
Vahn was a little surprised by the question, but he didn't have any reason to keep it a secret; however, before he was able to answer, Loki covered her mouth and laughed even more. Vahn felt like she looked a little bit like a fox as she stared at Hephaestus and said, "Your darling Hephaestus sure seemed to enjoy it~"
Hearing Loki's words, Vahn's mind blanked and he didn't understand what she was trying to say. He couldn't process why she would say that Hephaestus had enjoyed when he was having sex with Tiona and Ais. He wasn't the only one confused, as both Lili and Naaza, who were previously shocked when they heard Loki saw he slept with two women, looked at Hephaestus with strange expressions. Tsubaki seemed the least surprised, but there was still a bit of a twitch in her mouth as she stared 'helplessly' toward Hephaestus who had covered her face at Loki's accusation.
Vahn immediately understood there was more to the situation than he was aware of, and seeing the ashamed and bashful look of Hephaestus, he was overwhelmed by a mixture of guilt marred with a bit of curiosity. Almost as if she had understood his interest, Loki started stroking the area above his heart as she asked, "Is this where the 'eternal flame' fragment is? How very curious~" After testing his heartbeat with her palm, Loki continued to stroke Vahn's chest and he began to feel very uncomfortable.
Seeing her 'intimate' actions, three different voices shouted out at the same time, "Loki!","Don't touch Vahn!","You..." The voices belonged to Hephaestus, Lili, and Naaza who were now glaring at Loki with hatred and dissatisfaction. Loki pretended to be afraid as she held her arms in a defensive posture, "Waaah-! I just wanted to play like everyone else, don't be so greedy~. He already has, what, five women? What is one more~?"
Hephaestus swatted away the hands that Loki had begun to reach out toward Vahn's body, and then she pulled him halfway into her lap. Vahn was very surprised by the sudden action, and now he found himself in a very awkward position as Hephaestus cradled his face in her breasts while she glared at Loki and said, "Vahn is my child and the person I have placed my hopes in. Even if he sleeps with a bunch of other women, I'll never hand him over to people like you!"
Everyone seemed to be mildly surprised by Hephaestus's claim, but they weren't too shocked. Tsubaki, Naaza, and Lili, were all very aware of the relationship between Vahn and Hephaestus. Naaza and Lili especially knew that, without a doubt, the two would end up together in the future and, if they wanted to be at Vahn's side, it would have to be while sharing him with her. The only person who didn't seem remotely affected by Hephaestus's outburst was Loki.
Seeing the defensive posture Hephaestus had taken to protect Vahn from her clutches, Loki's smile grew a bit wider until her face slowly melted into a neutral and then serious expression. She had already formulated her plan, and everything was going well after she managed to exploit Hephaestus earlier. When the usually cool and stoic goddess was suddenly overcome by the pleasure Vahn was experiencing, Loki was able to take control of the negotiations before finally ending up here and waiting for Vahn.
It seemed like everyone present was wrapped up nice and neatly in the palm of her hands, and it made Loki feel greatly pleased by the situation. She could even feel a tingling sensation in her stomach and a moist feeling invading her shorts as her personal euphoria continued to rise. With her 'serious' look, she opened her mouth and said in a very casual manner, "I look forward to our 'negotiations'."
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Loki's Plot','Hephaestus Exposed','The Legend of Vulcan')
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Einlion
Einlion I may write another one tonight since this is a bit of a cliff-sama.
If possible, please consider supporting me on Patreon if you enjoy the story~! Even if it just a dollar, every now and then, every little bit helps <3
Chapter 131: Negotiations
Though Vahn was incredibly angry at Loki's behavior, he had been in a bit of a daze after Hephaestus pressed his face into her breasts. Though he would have liked to admit it was due to the intimate action, the real reason for Vahn's current daze was the notifications that had sounded from the system. Since he had come into contact with Loki earlier, he was now able to see her affection for him as well as the existence of a new mission.
[Loki]: Affection: 53(Neutral), Intrigue: 100(Insatiable Curiosity)
//Optional Quest Triggered//
[Quest: Forge an Alliance, Progressive]
Rank: I-SSS
Objective: Convince Gods/Goddesses to form an alliance between their Familia(s). Current Allies (0)
Rewards: 10,000 OP x Familia Rank. Currents Ranks (-). Quest completion rank depends on the total number of allies.
Failure Condition(s): Death, Host Familia Destroyed, Alliance Dissolved
Penalty: 100,000 OP
Vahn was rapidly trying to process the new information, but Hephaestus ended up speaking out before he could form a cohesive plan. "Speak, what are you planning Loki?" Hephaestus was holding her glare as she looked at the indifferent expression of Loki. At this point, Loki was leaning against the table and supporting her head with one of her hands as she looked at the interaction between Hephaestus and Vahn.
After staring at Hephaestus for a few seconds, Loki scanned her eyes around the room as she slowly stated, "For now, how about we identify where everyone stands..." Loki stopped her eyes on Naaza and Lili as she said, "You two girls must be people that Vahn saved. Its easy to see the dependency you have for the boy..." Turning her head to Tsubaki, Loki smile a bit and said, "And I'm guessing you're supposed to be protecting Vahn?"
Before the three girls could answer, Hephaestus said in a sharp tone, "Loki, stop playing games!" After she spoke, Loki looked toward her and opened her eyes slightly as she responded, "I am being very serious right now. Don't think that, just because you found Vahn first, you are the only one interested in him. We need to make everything clear, or it will be impossible to move forward in the discussion."
Vahn picked up on her words, and he finally decided to take action. Though he didn't have a concrete plan, Vahn knew he didn't like how Loki was acting, so he pulled away from Hephaestus and glared at the tiny goddess as he said, "I don't like how you treat people. Even if you're 'interested' in me, I have no desire to be used by someone with such a sickening and chaotic presence. We already made an agreement earlier, and if you try going after the people I care about to gain an advantage, I will never stop opposing you."
The moment his words fell, his domain spread out and once again started pressuring the goddess who seemed intent on causing trouble. Loki furrowed her brows a bit, but her smile didn't fade as she said, "That was an agreement between the two of us, this is fundamentally different. Right now I'm trying to negotiate with Hephaestus, and you don't have any grounds to stand on. If she expects me to keep your secrets, there obviously needs to be something to gain on my end. I'm not going to act just to make things more convenient to others; especially when your matters will involve my 'children'."
Vahn maintained his domain, but he felt a bit of his anger recede as he watched her chaotic aura stabilize a bit when she was mentioning her 'children'. He could understand that she seemed to care about them, but she continued to exploit people regardless. It made no sense to Vahn because it seemed like she was contradicting her own desires in pursuit of benefits. However, Vahn wasn't willing to let her do as she pleased, so he continued to pressure Loki as he said, "Even you seem to think I will be able to accomplish many things in the future, so why pursue immediate gains and cause strife? We could work together and benefit each other, instead of trying to exploit one another."
Loki raised her brows a bit and issued a strange response to his statement, "Ehhhh, aren't you making a bunch of assumptions? I said we were here to negotiate, not take advantage of each other. Even I'm not ambitious enough to try and exploit the third most powerful, and THE most influential production Familia in the City. I'd rather build a relationship that can benefit both parties, as that will guarantee the greatest benefits in the future. I don't understand why you seem to have such a weird bias against me!"
Vahn's mind blanked for a bit because, for a brief moment, Loki seemed to genuinely feel 'wronged' by his words. She gave him an incredulous look as she continued to explain, "As I said, your secrets may lead to various problems for my Familia in the future. No matter how you spin it, that fact will never change, and you can't blame me for wanting to protect my 'children'. Just like Hephaestus is unwilling to allow harm to come to you, I feel the same way about the kids in my Familia. The best thing for both groups is to compromise, don't you understand that?"
Perhaps because she was very accustomed to 'dealing' with people, but Vahn very quickly found himself unable to refute her claims. As he had done so when he first met Hephaestus and Tsubaki, Vahn tried to explain, "I can vaguely sense how people 'think' or 'feel'. Almost every time I look at you, you seem to give off a chaotic and unnerving vibe. Even if you're speaking the truth, I can't easily trust a person with such an aura."
Loki's eyes opened enough that he could see the full view of her red irises as she looked into his face with undisguised intrigue. Seeming to believe Vahn's words, Loki said, "So that's how it is...no wonder you're always on guard against me. You have eyes similar to the Divinity possessed by a god of Life. And with how Hephaestus treats you, I imagine you also have ties with forging...or maybe fire?"
Seeming to have realized something, Loki nodded her head and Vahn saw an incredulous sight before his eyes. The chaotic aura that was always emanating from Loki's body completely disappeared. Replacing it, Loki now had the gentle yellow aura with pink accents, very similar to someone that had amiable feelings toward him. In a low and almost sensuous voice, Loki asked, "How about now...Vahn? Do you still feel uncomfortable?" As she asked the question, her smile grew bigger as she saw the dumbfounded look of the boy in front on her.
In an amused tone, Loki explained, "My Divinity is related to trickery and mischief, you can't expect to be able to see through me so easily. The 'chaotic' aura you describe, is simply the manifestation of my Divinity in its natural state. That skill of yours might be very helpful, but if you're overreliant on it and make assumptions, you could turn potential friends into future enemies."
Satisfied by Vahn's blank look, Loki continued after making eye contact with Hephaestus, "Now, shall we continue, or is there anything else that needs to be discussed first?" Though Vahn still wanted to say a few things, seeing the sudden and inexplicable change, he immediately lost confidence in his words. Loki had taken the excuse he had given and immediately turned it against him; Vahn felt like he had been made a fool of, and fell into deep contemplation while Hephaestus and Loki began discussing terms.
Loki stated her terms to Hephaestus in a very businesslike manner, "Vahn has already made a vow to accompany two of the members of my Familia, Tiona and Ais, into the lower floors of the dungeon when they're on expeditions. I won't make a silly request like asking you to equip the entire vanguard, but I am expecting a discount on contracts for... let's say, anyone that is in a relationship with Vahn. From now on, they will receive a 30% discount on contracts, and each contract will be personally handled by you. This will allow the girls Vahn cares about to protect themselves and, in turn, Vahn himself will become safer. I'm sure you have no problems with this much concessions?"
Hephaestus wasn't happy to be 'forced' into contracts with people she hadn't personally interviewed. She typically chose her customers, but if she gave into Loki's demand, she would have to accede to, and even prioritize, the development of items for members of Loki's Familia. However, even though it went against her pride, she did agree that Loki's idea was the best solution in the present situation. If Vahn ended up dying on the expedition just because the equipment hadn't been to standard, Hephaestus would never be able to forgive herself.
With a grim expression, Hephaestus nodded and altered the conditions a bit, "I will agree, but only if each concerned party makes a vow to never lend or give the items I forge to others. I won't stand for a situation where your children continually request items for 'themselves' and then they end up in the hands of others." Loki had expected the request, so she nodded without hesitation.
Vahn, who had been listening in a bit, felt anguished at having Hephaestus have to make concessions for him. It wasn't until just now that he truly understood the difficulties she had borne on his behalf. Not only was she protecting him and his secrets, but she also helped take care of the problems that could influence his life. He even discovered that, while he was running around and fighting or chasing girls, she had to deal with his emotions and they even interfered with her work. If it wasn't for his earlier actions, this situation wouldn't have developed to this point in such a rapid manner where they were at a disadvantage.
Unable to prevent his thoughts from leaking, Vahn interrupted their negotiations and said, "Wait! I won't let Hephaestus bear all the burden on her own. Though I may not be a capable blacksmith yet, I want to change the terms so that, if the girls are okay with it, I will help provide their equipment. Also, you said our two Familia should work together, and I think it should be more than a relationship based on compromise. You claim that, because of my actions and origin, our two Familia are already irrevocably connected. As long as you and Hephaestus agree, I think our Familia should form an official Alliance and publicize it. It will make any enemies that try to appear in the future more apprehensive, and it will make the negotiations between all concerned parties smoother."
Vahn regurgitated all the information he had been organizing in his mind. Not only did he want to complete his quest, but he genuinely was unwilling to see Hephaestus continue to make so many compromises for him. He was almost more willing to flee the City and relieve her of the burden, but remembering his various promises, he couldn't find the courage to do so. Though Vahn didn't consider himself brave, he wanted to believe he wasn't the type of coward that would run away and renege on his promises. Just imagining the sad faces of Hephaestus, Tiona, and Ais made Vahn feel like he would rather die than do so.
As Vahn had shouted out the words, everyone in the room was looking at him with a mixture of shock and contemplation. Tsubaki had a smile on her face as she gave an appreciative nod while Hephaestus embraced Vahn from behind as he was currently facing toward Loki. Naaza and Lili, though they weren't part of the conversation, felt emboldened when they saw Vahn's conviction.
Loki, who had been the one addressed, also had her eyes slightly opened as she tilted her head back with her finger on her chin. She seemed to be seriously considering his words, and after a bit of consideration, seemed to agree with what he had said. After a few more moments, she looked at Vahn and said with a sly grin, "Very well, I will agree on one condition. And lucky for you, it's one that you can easily do~"
Vahn continued to return her gaze without his expression changing in the slightest. He still had all the confidence from his earlier outburst as he asked, almost like he was challenging her, "What is your condition?" There was no hesitation at all in his words, and it made Loki begin to laugh for a moment before she stated, "I want you to work with Riveria to research that 'Divinity' you seem to possess. She already told me that it has a lot of unique capabilities, and I think it would benefit everyone if you studied it alongside her. She has far more experience than others, and will also know how to best apply your skills when it comes to a fight in the future. What do you say?"
Vahn knew that, if it came down to it, he would use his [Will of the Emperor] without any hesitation. He had even used it for the purpose of calming the members of the expeditionary party previously, and it was a core part of his strength. When he accompanied the Loki Familia into the dungeon, he would have to follow the order of Finn and Riveria and, their understanding of his capabilities could be vital depending on the situation. As Vahn was also curious about the nature of his domain, and he was constantly trying to understand its functions, he didn't see any downsides to working with the 'experienced' and wise elf.
Looking into the red eyes of Loki, who was waiting for his response, Vahn squinted his eyes a bit before he nodded his head and said, "I accept. But, only if she agrees to make a vow to not disclose the information to others without my express permission." Vahn didn't distrust the taciturn elf, but that didn't mean he would simply allow her to learn his secrets and then spread them at her leisure. Though it was unavoidable that some people would have to know, Vahn wanted to have a say in how the information spread.
Loki laughed for a little while but agreed to his request without modifying the terms any. Afterward, they continued to discuss various other things and agreed to have both Tiona and Ais meet with Hephaestus to get their measurements taken in the future. When Loki brought up the idea, she teased Vahn by saying, "I'm sure you're very interested in their measurements as well, so maybe you can accompany them~?" Vahn didn't disagree with her, because he had already become familiar with their bodies and it wouldn't hurt to know more. If he had to make equipment for them in the future, he had to take into consideration every small detail.
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Is Vahn actually gonna start forging now?','Loki gets a slight advantage','Hephaestus is planning something?')
CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Einlion
Einlion
Le Boop~
Level 1 Vahn: https://imgur.com/a/zFOLFrT
Courtesy of https://www.deviantart.com/robusta-mania
Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
153 Power
stone 
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