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43.25% Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos / Chapter 1018: Observation

Chapter 1018: Observation

Though he hadn't noticed it at first, Vahn was able to sense there were various 'activities' going on in the surrounding hotels. Unlike back when he was in the Record of Danmachi, there were no real security measures that could block detection abilities. With his domain, Vahn quickly intuited that the hotel he found himself outside of wasn't exactly normal. Realizing this, he turned his attention to the surroundings, noticing that people went about their business as normal, even though he half-believed he had wandered into this world's version of a Red Light District. Based on how the pedestrians were acting, with even young children happily walking about, Vahn felt that the people either weren't bothered by acts of intimacy, or he had found himself in a society that proactively encouraged them...

As this thought crossed his mind, Vahn shook his head to refute his own wayward thoughts as, based on how people dressed, they actually seemed more 'reserved' than what he was used to. Most people dressed in relatively neat garments, many even wearing similar uniforms that consisted of fitted long-sleeved shirts with muted grey and black jackets. Vahn noticed that many even wore high-quality slacks, banded socks, and neatly arranged ties. With their simple haircuts and highly polished dress shoes, Vahn didn't think these people were the types to openly display affection, at least for others to bear witness to. The only exception to this seemed to be young adults, many wearing similar uniforms to each other, hanging around and enjoying each other's company.

In the midst of looking around, Vahn turned his attention to two young girls, both wearing matching uniforms with white blouses, pleated skirts, and stockings. Their garb was similar to the uniforms worn by other similarly aged people, leading Vahn to intuit that they must be students attending the same school. What set them apart was that they wore their uniforms somewhat slovenly compared to the norm while their skin and hair had been altered from their base color through apparent chemical means. The fact that they had light brown and blonde hair respectively, while almost everyone else in the area had dark brown and black hair, caused them to stand out like a sore thumb amongst the densely crowded streets.

After approaching relatively close to Vahn's position, the taller of the two girls, though she was only around 158cm, gave Vahn a somewhat predatory gaze as she asked, "Hey, Mister, you a tourist or something? If you want, I can show you around. I can guarantee that its a lot more interesting on the inside~." Punctuating her words, the girl made a circular gesture with her index finger and thumb as she smiled in what Vahn assumed was her best attempt at appearing seductive. Her friend began laughing in an enthused manner before lightly elbowing her companion and saying, "You doofus, look at his skin and face. Do you think he even knows what you're saying?"

Though there were a few people with pale and fairer complexions in the surroundings, the vast majority of people present had relatively similar features, especially in regards to the basic structure of their faces and bodies. Vahn, however, currently stood around 185cm tall, towering over the vast majority of males present. His skin was the same healthy tanned color that he preferred for himself while his facial features were, from the perspective of everyone gawking at him, distinctly western. What set him apart even more, other than his angular jawline and generally handsome face, were his uncharacteristic spiky brown hair, which gave him a somewhat untamed appearance, and his stark aquamarine eyes. Though it was hard to determine his age at a glance, most would have estimated him to be in his late twenties. After watching the Vanir grow up rapidly, combined with his status as an Emperor, Vahn had taken on a more mature and, according to most, intimidating appearance...

When Vahn looked directly at the two girls, their eyes widened in surprise as, even without emanating any pressure, Vahn's gaze made them feel as if they had just stepped into a room with an unleashed tiger. Though he didn't understand the meaning of the girl's gesture, Vahn knew she was trying to solicit him so he adopted his characteristically polite smile as he said, "I am perfectly capable of understanding you. However, though I am flattered by the offer, I'll have to ask that the two of you excuse me..." Based on how their expressions had 'blanked', Vahn wasn't sure if the two girls had even processed what he said. The taller of the two girls then adopted an unexpectedly bashful look as she moved a few loose strands of hair behind her ear and asked, "W-What's the rush? Are you looking for something?"

With her friend's words breaking her free from the stupor she had found herself in, the shorter of the two girls quickly added, "Yeah, yeah, why not keep us company for a bit, Mister? Don't worry, you won't even have to pay...!" As the final words left her mouth, the shorter girl's face gained a ruddy hue as her friend looked towards her with an accusatory gaze that seemed to scream, 'What are you saying!?'. Seeing this, Vahn was beginning to feel that the situation was quickly turning into something troublesome, especially with the gazes passersby were giving him. Though he was accustomed to men directing envious gazes towards him, he could see the shadow of judgment and disgust in the eyes of some. This triggered a few red flags in Vahn's mind as, without knowledge of this word's laws and customs, the chance that any small event could quickly escalate out of control was high...

Before the two could continue pestering him, Vahn held up his hand to catch the girls' attention before adopting a more serious expression as he said, "Once again, I'm flattered, but not interested. Please go about your own business as I have my own to attend..." With those parting words, Vahn walked passed the two stunned girls without sparing them a second glance. Through his domain, he could sense the taller of the two push the smaller girl, causing him to sigh as he shifted his focus elsewhere. He couldn't fathom how the two were actually able to consider each other friends if they would fight over something so inconsequential. Based on the reaction from the surroundings, their behavior was highly frowned upon yet, curiously, Vahn noticed that nobody took any proactive measures to put a stop to it. Some people even brought out the devices from their pockets, pointing them towards the two girls as they began spectating the event at a distance...

After leaving the area, Vahn made sure there was no attention placed on him before turning his head skyward and leaping towards the top of a four-story building. In the region he was located, the buildings were not only tightly packed together but, with few exceptions, most were multiple stories tall. Even the various shops, of which there were numerous, often had several floors in which customers could browse neatly arranged and highly colorful products. Some were even live-in stores, often with the uppermost floor being designated as the residence of whoever ran the business. Vahn actually found the layout of this unique City rather charming as, even though there were still a few hours left in the day, the City seemed alive with various lights and sounds.

With his higher vantage, Vahn watched as the vast majority of people moved about on foot while a few used mechanical means to traverse the City below. They had a surprisingly efficient system to regulate both foot and mechanical traffic, using a series of lights to guide people while various other signs denoted the rules and regulations that the carriage drivers had to follow. It was a rather ingenious system and, if not for the fact that it seemed somewhat 'wasteful' to rely on such means of transport, Vahn would have commended their ingenuity. From his perspective, the slow-moving mechanical carriages were just a means in which the lazier,or perhaps more affluent, people got around. Instead of developing their bodies to the point that they could easily outmaneuver such contraptions, they seemed almost 'dependent' on the machines they had created in order to prosper.

Almost at the exact moment this thought crossed his mind, Vahn's ears picked up the sound of a supersonic hum, drawing his attention towards the skies above. His eyes widened a bit as, several thousand meters in the sky, there was another mechanical contraption that was moving through the sky. Though it was hard to determine its exact size and shape, Vahn approximated the contraption to be more than 40m long, comprised almost entirely of metal. What he found most surprising was the fact that it seemed to rely entirely on mechanical components to achieve flight as the lack of mana within the environment would have made most forms of flight inefficient.

Seeing the peculiar contraption flying through the sky, Vahn muttered in a voice mixed with awe and a bit of melancholy, "I shouldn't underestimate the people of this world. Any civilization capable of achieving flight through mechanical means is deserving of caution...it's a shame Ina couldn't be here to see this..." Knowing that Ina would have loved to dismantle almost everything he had come across in this Record, Vahn felt a bit of homesickness as he began jumping between buildings. Though some people noticed his movements, Vahn had altered his appearance slightly to ensure they wouldn't be able to identify him later on. He didn't know the exact functions of the devices that almost everyone seemed to carry but, after observing several people using them, he had determined they were used to facilitate communication. They appeared to use invisible fields located all throughout the City to connect the devices while also sending signals through fields that extended high into the skies above, far beyond Vahn's perception...

After coming to a stop atop a fourteen-story building, Vahn remarked, "They have such an expansive network of communication yet seem to almost 'ignore' each other as they go about their business..." Having observed passersby for a few hours now, Vahn felt it was strange that people would simply walk by each other, hardly sparing a glance for the other party. Just like many had ignored the two fighting girls, the common consensus seemed to be to mind your own business. This was especially true for the older generations who often looked towards those younger than themselves with borderline content and clear annoyance in their expressions. At the same time, most of the youths would completely ignore their seniors, to the point that they would unceremoniously walk around old people that were crossing through the lanes designated for mechanical carriages without providing aid. Some were even glued to the pocket devices that seemed commonplace within this world, completely ignoring their surroundings by wearing devices that were inserted into the ears...

Vahn couldn't quite fathom how there could be such a high density of people in one place, even as everyone seemed to act as individuals. Even in the tall buildings he had passed along the way, Vahn inspected their interior and saw many men and women sitting at desks that were closely surrounded by walls. Though everyone wore similar uniforms, they were literally divided on the most basic level as everyone kept their heads down and focused on their work. Everything seemed rigid and overly polite, to the point that Vahn felt suffocated watching as two men exchanged a total of eleven bows between themselves. Even though the display seemed to be a respectful one, Vahn could tell that both men were doing it as part of a 'necessitated courtesy', not genuine respect...

With a sigh escaping his lips, Vahn sat on the edge of the roof to ruminate but was almost immediately noticed by someone walking below. The moment they pointed towards him, Vahn swore that more than a hundred heads swiveled in direction at the same time while some almost instantly directed their pocket devices towards him. Seeing this, he rolled back onto the roof to evade their gazes before muttering, "This world is weird...Sis, do you have any ideas about how I can make some money?" During his search through the City, which he now knew to be called Fuyuki, Vahn had been considering a means to make some Yen to pay for temporary lodging. He quickly hit a wall, however, as there was nothing like a merchant's association present while most of the stores he had inspected seemed to only sell items, not purchase them...

Without any delay in her response, Sis quickly answered, (*I have been intercepting the data transmissions through the wireless network encompassing the City. Without an Identification Card, it will be difficult for you to sell items, even if you did quickly forge something. For the time being, it may be best to move to the outskirts of the City or use one of the rooftops to rest. In the morning, I would suggest moving to the riverside as there is a fish market that opens around 2AM. Fish seems to be an exceptionally popular foodstuff in this region and you should be able to sell your catch to the local butchers there without any difficulties. For the time being, I would suggest laying low until you get a better understanding of this world's unique qualities. I suspect trouble will come looking for you, sooner or later, so it is best to use this time to collect as much information as possible. If you can gain direct access to a computer, the object you saw those uniformed workers using, I will be able to access a stream of information called the internet to quickly expand our knowledge base.*)

Vahn hadn't been expected such a comprehensive answer from Sis, as she had been relatively quiet during his observation of the City. Now, he realized she had been using the same invisible network as the people below to access information. Since this was all stored within his mind, Vahn closed his eyes and began pouring through the information contained within. Sis, understanding his intentions, sorted through the data she had been collecting, presenting it to Vahn in a cohesive format that he would be able to interpret without being confused by. At the same time, she purchased several texts and books through the system shop, based on texts referenced within the data she had collected, further increasing the amount of knowledge he possessed.

After nearly five hours of sorting through the information organized by Sis, Vahn opened his eyes and observed the City below once again, this time with a significantly greater understanding of what he was looking at. Most importantly, he now knew he was on a planet called Earth, the third celestial body rotating around its parent star, generally referred to as the Sun. What hit him even harder than the truck from earlier, however, was the fact that Vahn knew his original planet was also called Earth. Even the name of the current country he found himself in, Japan, was something he was intimately familiar with after being a fan of anime and manga. It was a place he had always dreamed about visiting in the past but, after reaching Danmachi, such desires had quickly faded. Now that he knew he was in a world that was even remotely similar to the one he originally hailed from, Vahn was experiencing a variety of complex emotions that were hard to parse...

Turning his attention to the East, even though residents of this world would refer to it as the 'West', Vahn felt as if he could see the United States across the vast Pacific Ocean. Though it wasn't the place he had been born, Vahn felt a cold rage rising up in the back of his mind as he couldn't help but compare it to his original world. For a brief moment, he even contemplating whether or not to cross the ocean and get 'revenge' but, remembering that this was simply one United States in an infinite number of variable timelines, Vahn tempered his anger by taking several deep breaths. He couldn't hold the people of this world accountable for the actions of his original world, regardless of the fact that he actually recognized the names of some of their celebrities and politicians. Since many anime and manga could have been based on the world he originated from, it wasn't that surprising to find that some of the same names would appear...

It took him a bit longer than he would have liked to admit, likely the result of his 'separation anxiety', but Vahn eventually managed to calm down enough to muse, "At least I finally got to visit Japan..." With those words departing his lips, Vahn jumped through the sky by creating a few loose footholds on the air. He currently lacked the ability to fly, as there simply wasn't enough mana within the atmosphere, but that didn't stop him from using his knowledge of [Koku Shundo] and his comprehension of the Space element to get by. Still, it was a lot harder than Vahn expected and, by the time he reached the nearby Mion River, he had to take a breather as he waited for his reserves to slowly replenish. Without abilities like [Yggdrasil's Blessing] and [Spirit Healing], Vahn found that his replenishment of Source Energy had effectively been crippled compared to his past self...

With the sun already setting on the horizon, Vahn deeply inhaled the crisp evening air before frowning slightly as his body naturally filtered out the chemicals that had become a part of the every-day life of the people in this world. Instead of feeling refreshed by the cool breeze washing over him, Vahn picked up a nearby stone before skipping it clear across the river. He wondered if he should take an active role in this world, slowly changing it into a more peaceful place where people would be able to live happier lives. Though the Politics of this world seemed unnecessarily complex, Vahn knew they were only the 'surface' powers within the world as there were undoubtedly more powerful forces controlling things behind the scenes. After all, this Record had an even higher Tier than Danmachi so, even though the majority of people seemed almost ridiculously weak, there had to be a few individuals that could even decimate an existence like Tiamat with ease...

After skipping a few stones, Vahn focused his eyes as he released another small pebble from his hands. This one didn't skip across the water and, instead, penetrated deep beneath the surface before piercing through the head of a rather large Bluefin Tuna. Vahn estimated its weight to be around 180kg, making it worth around ¥240,000 within the local market. Though it would usually require a license to fish for Bluefin, Vahn knew he would be able to sell it cheaply to one of the local fishermen without them asking too many questions. As they would be able to turn a much larger profit for the fish than the price he would quote, Vahn intended to take advantage of the apparently 'laziness' of people within the world to turn a quick profit...

Using the same method, Vahn quickly harvested the lives of a dozen large Bluefin Tuna before preserving them in his Inventory. With that out of the way, he chose the riverbed as his resting place for the night, watching the stars overhead as the cool evening air blanketed his body. Now that he no longer had the eternal flame in his chest, Vahn could feel the chill far more clearly than before. This made him once again realize that he was no longer in the Record of Danmachi and, no matter how much he wanted to, he now lacked the means to retreat to the comfort provided by the people he loved. He was now an impossible distance from them, one which he could never traverse without reaching a degree of power he couldn't even comprehend at this point...

As the realization that he wouldn't see his family again for a long time began to settle in, Vahn closed his eyes in a vain attempt to keep his tears from falling. Worst of all, he couldn't even call Fenrir to his side as, with what he now knew of this world, it would be impossible for him to keep her a secret. She would draw far too much attention with her unique appearance and, without the means to use transformation magic due to the low density of mana available in the atmosphere, she had no way of concealing her Vanargandr traits. Until he found a permanant residence and acquired a means to reliably replenish their reserves, she would have to remain in stasis within his Unit Management's storage. The only other option was to rely on items obtained through the shop to replenish her reserves but, at least for the time being, Vahn knew this wouldn't be a viable solution. Thus, for what felt like the first time in more than a hundred years, Vahn spent the evening in solitude as a degree of loneliness he hadn't fully prepared for hit him...like a truck...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Begone, THOT~!','Interconnected, but separate...','Homesickness...')

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Chapter 1019: First Step

Three days after his arrival in Fuyuki, Vahn's situation had changed greatly compared to when he had been unceremoniously dropped into the world by Akasha. Though the lack of a proper identification was quickly becoming a problem, Vahn at least managed to get a small apartment in one of the shadier sections of the City, located just on the outskirts of the fish markets. His 'illegal' fishing had caught more attention than he would have liked but it had been surprisingly easy to secure a temporary residence after selling his catch to a middle-aged businessman named Kinoba Fujitora. He was a relatively affluent businessman who leased out a few of the larger fishing vessels, making him one of the central figures within the region when it came to the acquisition and distribution of rarer fish. Unsurprisingly, he also dabbled in the Black Market and even had a few Enforcers staffed within the region who were rumored to be Yakuza, the most notorious gang within the region.

Because he had decided to sell one of the rarer and more expensive types of fish, Vahn quickly caught the attention of one of Fujitora's Enforcers. After easily dealing with the scarred man and his cronies, who had tried to claim his fish for themselves without forking over a single Yen, Vahn had been approached by Fujitora directly. Though he had arrived with the apparent intent to seek trouble, it didn't take long at all for Fujitora's disposition to change into a more amicable and 'reasonable' one. This was due to the natural 'aura' that Vahn emanated, something he only observed when dealing with clients who wielded extreme authority, often over thousands of lives. Since Vahn was also extremely fit and handsome, he assumed the latter was the son of a wealthy family who was just dabbling in 'playing commoner'. With Vahn's eyes constantly wandering around, combined with his apparent lack of common sense, it wasn't difficult to make this assumption...

Thinking he could curry some favor with the unknown foreigner, Fujitora had quickly helped Vahn arrange a place to stay and even assigned a few people to 'take care' of him. Vahn wasn't particularly fond of having people lingering around to observe his movements but, after making sure there were no cameras and audio devices within his room, he stopped minding it. He had a few million Yen within his Inventory and had been able to gain access to a computer so it wouldn't be long before he left Fujitora's influence and moved on to bigger and better things...

On the topic of computers, Vahn was genuinely shocked to learn of the existence of the 'internet' as, even compared to the planes flying through the sky, it was an unbelievably advanced technology. The fact that the entire world was interconnected through a series of wired and wireless networks had come as a great shock to him, especially since statistics purported that nearly three billion people proactively used the network on a daily basis. With such a vast number of people feeding information into the internet, the amount of information Sis had access to gave Vahn a feeling as if he had gained borderline omniscience within the Record. Not only was he able to gain basic information about Fuyuki and the surrounding regions, he was able to learn a vast amount of information regarding the Political climate and the various powerful families within, not just Japan, but the entire world...

There didn't seem to be any real 'limit' to what he could find through the internet as, even without having to sit at a computer himself, Sis was able to scour the vast network and compile information on his behalf. Though this required Vahn to literally plug an ethernet cable into his own body, after creating an access port for it, Sis had gone to town as she endeavored to 'literally' download all of the internets information into the deepest recesses of his mind. She had to filter out quite a lot of unnecessary information, accounting for nearly 98% of everything recorded, but that 2% was still the cumulative knowledge and wisdom of billions of people. Since she also gained access to private networks that were connected to the larger worldwide web, Vahn even had access to a great deal of information that was not meant for public consumption.

The only real restriction Sis had when it came to the internet was that she could only 'collect' information, not modify or interfere with it. If the security was advanced enough, she wasn't able to gain access to the network and, in order to directly carry out her intentions, Vahn was required to act as her hands and eyes. Fortunately, the system interface he had become intimately familiar with also served as a user interface that Vahn was able to navigate with thought alone. Under Sis' guidance, it only took him ten hours to gain access to the Japanese Census Bureau, fabricating a birth certificate and establishing an identity for himself. Though it wouldn't take much effort for anyone performing an investigation to conclude that his identity was faked, as there were more than a century of paper records filed away in warehouses Vahn didn't have access to, the odds anyone would investigate him to that extent were slim.

By the time everything was taken care of, Vahn had the identity of a second-generation migrant who had been orphaned after both of his parents died in a car accident. As for other records, such as dental, medical, insurance, taxes, and educational, Vahn completely ignored the first three, as it wasn't that uncommon for some adults his age to simply lack insurance, while the tax and educational records had been important for validating his identity. Though Vahn hadn't officially filed taxes, meaning he would have to get audited if he wanted to 'solidify' his identity, it was important for him to at least exist within the system. As for his educational records, they seemed to be surprisingly important within Japan so Sis had guided him through the process of creating an education profile that stretched all the way from kindergarten to High School. Though any of his presumed classmates could easily expose the truth of the matter, Vahn wasn't particularly worried about it since the odds of him ever meeting anyone from his 'hometown', a small fishing town called Ine.

With his new identity, Vahn was able to feel more confident about his future actions, even though it resulted in Fujitora coming to his residence on the fifth day and 'kicking' him out. After finding the identity Vahn had fabricated, the man no longer tried to pander to him but, after Vahn easily dealt with the toughs he had brought along to intimidate him, the chubby businessman made no further attempts to stop him from leaving. As for why Vahn didn't deal with the man himself, his new understanding of the world all included an awareness of the local and provincial laws. He knew the methods he relied on in his previous world when dealing with criminals wouldn't exactly fly in a more modern setting, as he would quickly be labeled a criminal and murderer himself. Though he could always join, or even create a criminal organization, Vahn didn't consider himself a bad person so he wanted to avoid being publically, or internationally, labeled as one...

Leaving the temporary residence that had been provided to him, amidst the groans of pain from more than twenty men, Vahn headed into the downtown district of Fuyuki City once again. Since he wanted to avoid drawing attention to himself in the middle of the day, Vahn used the local train for the first time and, even though it was a bit slow compared to his own standards, Vahn felt it was surprisingly efficient. Not only had the train arrived almost exactly at the posted time, it also departed after idling for a mere two minutes. Though it felt a little suffocating to be packed into a small car with nearly a hundred other people, Vahn noticed that the majority kept to themselves while very few people even bothered to make sounds. Those who did were usually the younger members of society, resulting in them getting the stink eye from the surroundings...

After reaching his destination, Vahn moved with the crowd this time, deciding to view the City from the same perspective as a resident in order to gain his bearings. His minimap had been partially completed during his first exploration of the City but it helped to see things up close for the sake of clarity. Vahn's domain still missed out on the finer details of things unless he guided his 'intent' to inspect things more closely. Though he could sense the presence of individual blades of grass within a field, it didn't mean he automatically knew how many there were, or if areas of the grass were damaged and rotting. Since Fuyuki, and Japan in general, seemed to rely heavily on auditory and visual stimuli to communicate meaning, Vahn decided it was best to practice walking around the City so he wouldn't stand out as easily in the future.

Not even ten minutes into his exploration of the City, Vahn had started to regret his decision as he still garnered a lot of attention from his surroundings. Men would give him annoyed looks in passing while women would give way to him before pulling out their phones and snapping pictures in 'secret'. Whenever Vahn would politely greet them, they would act startled and confused before giving a too-polite response, often followed by them quickly leaving the area. Even women that were near the same age as his current appearance would act nervously around him before awkwardly following his back with their gazes. Vahn was beginning to feel as if he was an exotic animal that had been put on display, especially when a smart-looking woman with round glasses approached him with a business card before excitedly declaring, "You're an extremely handsome man! Have you ever thought about becoming an Idol and getting into advertising? My company had been looking for a new Ace to represent foreign products and I think you would be able to do well in the industry!"

With the woman presenting her company's business card with both hands, politely bowing in the process, Vahn almost grabbed it on instinct before changing the motion at the last moment to hold up his hand and declare, "I'm flattered, but I have no intention of becoming an Idol. Thank you for the offer but I must be on my way..." After politely refusing, Vahn attempted to walk around the woman but she immediately moved to block his intended path as she flusteredly stated, "Wait, wait, wait, hear me out, please! With your looks, you could easily become a legendary figure within the Industry. Even movie deals may not be off the table so please consider my offer. You could be Fuyuki's, no, all of Japan's Rising Star~!" Even though Vahn wasn't Japanese, the woman had actually forgotten to breath for a few seconds when she first caught sight of him. Even if he lacked the 'star power' she purported he had, it wouldn't take any effort at all to market him based on looks and disposition alone.

Though Vahn liked to consider himself a patient person, he had been 'trained' by Loki, Riveria, and Fortuna to never show leniency towards any party that attempted to pressure him. In an instant, Vahn's amicable 'aura' seemed to vanish before an oppressive atmosphere naturally radiated from his body. His expression hadn't changed at all but, from the perspective of observers, his eyes seemed sharper and borderline 'cold' as he looked down at the woman and plainly stated, "I have no interest in becoming an Idol..." This time, when Vahn walked around her, the woman made no effort to stop him and, instead, quickly moved aside before nearly falling to the ground when her legs gave out. A middle-aged man in a business suit caught her by the arm before helping her find her footing but, by the time she looked towards where Vahn had been walking, he was no longer anywhere to be seen.

Finding himself atop a building once again, Vahn was lightly tapping a signboard as he considered changing his appearance to better match his surroundings. He was trying to lay low, at least for the time being, so there were few advantages to walking around with his default appearance. However, the idea of 'hiding' himself in such a way caused Vahn to frown slightly as part of him had come to 'expect' attention. The thing was, compared to the power and authority he possessed in Danmachi, Vahn was an external variable within the Nasuverse who, for the time being, had neither. This caused something inside of him to stir, likely related to his Qinglong form and sense of identity, as Vahn knew he was one of the more powerful figures within the world. Allowing himself to be bound by the normal restrictions imposed upon this docile society, especially when there was a larger hidden world he hadn't even seen yet, made Vahn feel as if he was walking further from his goal of reuniting with his family...

Reaching this conclusion, Vahn's eyes reflected the City of Fuyuki as he extended his hand outward, almost as if he could grasp the entire City in his palm. Then, with a solemn and determined voice, Vahn muttered, "There is no need to adapt to a world I have no intention of staying in...why should I be afraid of being exposed when there is literally nothing my enemies can use to threaten me...?" Right now, Vahn didn't even have Fenrir and Medusa at his side so, regardless of any setbacks he personally faced, it ultimately didn't matter. Even if he faced an enemy that had the means to kill his immortal body, which seemed to be an actual possibility within this world, it only meant he would be forced out of the Record. If he wanted to, Vahn could even enter another version of the Nasuverse, an infinite number of times if necessary...

With that thought in mind, Vahn slowly closed his hand as his eyes turned towards one of the areas he had been proactively avoiding since arriving in the world. During his preliminary mapping of the City, Vahn had tried to avoid areas where the mana density was slightly higher than normal. There were a few locations that were interspaced throughout the City where barriers and other 'abnormal' phenomena could be observed. He had originally concealed his presence, keeping away from these locations, but now Vahn was considering proactively exposing himself. Though it might render the efforts he had put into making an identity pointless, Vahn knew the only way to truly begin his rise to power was to understand exactly what power meant in the context of the Record. The internet hadn't provided him with any real information in regards to Magecraft, making it clear that it was a highly guarded secret that the people in power didn't want to expose...

Vahn initially couldn't understand why entities with higher Soul Tiers would even bother to hide themselves away but, considering there were things like nuclear warheads and advanced weapons platforms in space, things he could hardly wrap his head around, it seemed to make a bit of sense. There were obviously forces at play he was simply unaware of as well, meaning he would need to experience them directly if he wanted to learn the truth. It was only by seeking the truth that he would be able to increase his own comprehension and, by virtue, his Tier. Stalling any longer would only increase the feeling of loneliness that had been plaguing his heart so Vahn affirmed his resolve as he leaped from the building and made a beeline towards a residence that stood out from the surroundings. While most buildings within the City were tightly packed together, there were a few regions near the periphery of the City where the wealthy, affluent, and traditional families lived.

The building Vahn found himself outside of stood out, even amongst the other large Manors and Mansions in the surroundings. Instead of looking like a traditional Japanese Manor, it was a large Western-Style Manor with three stories set beneath an angular tiled roof. There was even a tower-like structure built into it while, below the ground, Vahn could roughly make out that there were two subterranean levels. It was hard to be certain, however, as there were several magical formations that made it hard for him to get a clear read on the Manor's internal structure. Though he could still peer into the interior with his domain, it was almost as if the inside was 'shifting' around, obscuring his perception and making it difficult to determine if what his senses were picking up was real...

Vahn was beginning to miss his ability to transform into his Qinglong form as, with his current reserves, he couldn't easily send his 'intent' into the Manor's interior without being rewarded a powerful headache for his efforts. Though his Innates hadn't been weakened upon entry into the Record, Vahn simply lacked the reserves to power them at the moment. This didn't mean he was without options, however, as Vahn's eyes passed over a list of items within the system shop before he pulled out a literal [Mana Crystal]. Focusing his mind, Vahn's skin tone began to slowly change as the outline of scales began to appear on his exposed forearms. From his head, accompanied by an incredibly itchy feeling, golden antler-like horns began to reveal themselves as he sent his intent forward to confirm his suspicions...

Regardless of how complex the magical formations were, Vahn's 'intent' was able to move without being restricted by things like distance. He didn't actually move it 'through' things, as it was more accurate to decribe the method in which his intent moved around as 'shifting' between points. As a result, Vahn bypassed the formations completely as he began to inspect the Manor's interior. He quickly identified several rather dated pieces of furniture while many of the books present within looked to be hundreds of years old. All of this was preserved with a unique spell formula that Vahn had never seen before, giving the interior of the Manor an aged, yet regal feel. It was obvious that the Manor's residents were of a more 'Noble' disposition, causing Vahn's brow to furrow slightly as he had never been fond of most Nobles...

After looking around the upper floors, Vahn was surprised to find that the Manor seemed to be completely bereft of serving staff. He half-expected to find a few Maids or Butlers within but, after looking through all three floors, there wasn't a soul in sight. Vahn next passed through the far more advanced barriers that had been blocking his perception of the Manor's underground before finding the first actual resident. Almost as soon as the woman came into his view, her head snapped around and as she held up a purple amethyst as she shouted, "Who is it!?" in a voice Vahn couldn't hear. He was, fortunately, able to read her lips, even if it hadn't been necessary to know what she had said to know he had been exposed.

Though it may not have been the best choice, especially seeing as the woman was already in a battle-ready state, Vahn had detected no other presences within the basement levels so he used the remainder of the [Mana Crystal]'s mana to tear through Space. He was immediately greeted by what appeared to be several reddish-black lasers but, sensing there was no 'danger' contained within the spell, Vahn allowed it to strike his body without resisting. A numbing sensation quickly spread through his limbs before it was completely nullified, causing the woman to mistake that he had counteracted the attack as she jumped back, blue runes covering her arms and legs. Vahn knew she had mistaken him as an enemy so, even though they may very well be actual enemies, he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender as he stated, "I do not bear any ill will towards you...!"

The woman had just pulled out a small rainbow-colored gem but, upon hearing Vahn's words, she kept it within her palm, remaining on guard as she asked, "Who are you? Why have you come here!?" She obviously wasn't going to take Vahn for his word so, even though he hadn't made any attempt to attack, the runes on her arms and legs hadn't faded away. Vahn could see that they greatly enhanced her physical capabilities but, no matter how he looked at her, she had the physique of a 'normal' person. Though her internal mana was far higher than most people, possessing a few unique qualities within, Vahn felt she would have lost out against most competent Level 2 Adventurers...

With his hands still raised, Vahn spoke in a clear and calm voice, "My name is Vahn Mason. I have come here seeking information, not conflict. I apologize for showing up unexpectedly but there are a few questions I would like to ask you. After you answer my questions, I will leave you in peace while also providing adequate compensation for your troubles..." Vahn was doing his best to appear as non-threatening as possible, even as his domain spread through the area, allowing him to analyze the surrounding spell formula. With enough time, he was confident he could negate, or even reverse, the effect of this worlds Magecraft, just as he had been able to within the record of Danmachi...

In response to Vahn's words, the woman squinted her eyes as she whispered, "Vahn Mason...I have never heard of a Magus with that name..." She wasn't speaking directly to him so Vahn ignored her external monologue, continuing to appear as 'harmless' as possible. Eventually, after nearly a full minute of awkward tension, the woman adopted a more casual stance as she asked, "What kind of information are you looking for? You should know that it is a terrible idea to enter into the territory of another Magus like this...what organization are you a part of?" Though she was putting on a show of acting casual, Vahn was very aware of the fact that the woman kept the gemstone tucked away in her palm while her heart rate hadn't even started to settle yet...

Doing his best to adopt a disarming smile, Vahn explained, "I actually have no understanding of the etiquette practiced by other Magus. That is one of the things I'd like to ask about, though, I suppose the most pressing question I'd like an answer to is...who are you?" Vahn had expected his question to get a rise out of the girl but nothing could have prepared him for the look of sheer incredulity that appeared on her face as she exclaimed, "Hah? You snoop around my Manor and break in without even knowing whose territory you're invading? Are you some kind of idiot!?" For a brief moment, it even looked as if she was about to throw the gem in her hands toward him but, as if it was something she refused to part with easily, the woman quickly calmed down after seeing Vahn's wry and apologetic smile.

After calming herself down a bit, even though the expression in her eyes screamed, 'I don't believe this', the woman somewhat proudly stated, "My name is Rin Tohsaka, Sixth-Generation Head of the Tohsaka Magus family! Now, the more important question is, who, or, more specifically, what the hell are you...?"

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Fishy Business','Vahn is beginning to 'grasp' his situation...','Vahn's first step into the Magus world is onto a landmine...')

(A/N: As there seems to be some confusion about the 'low mana density' Vahn keeps mentioning, you need to keep in mind that he is comparing it to Danmachi. That is a world where literal gods roam the land and, as a result of the mana in the environment, monsters, dragons, spirits, etc, are all extremely common. Things that would be considered endangered and protected species in the Nasuverse wouldn't even be rare within the Record of Danmachi. So yes, while Fuyuki would have a decent amount of mana compared to other Cities, it is complete shit-tier compared to even a frontier village in Danmachi xD.)

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