Bab 2267: More than Friends

After defeating a giant stone golem, a six-armed mechanical puppet, a fully outfitted blacksmith-turned-swordsman, and what appeared to be a thresher robot from an apocalyptic world, Yo had managed to secure her Community's participation in the Final 32 of the Battle of the Creators.

While most people had to struggle quite a bit during their matches, Yo quickly gained a reputation as the event's Black Horse after defeating each and every one of her opponents within the first two to three minutes of each round. She had gotten even stronger since her stay in the Game Board, as, every other day, she and Izayoi would battle it out in a specially prepared training room provided as a courtesy by Vahn.

Though she doubted she would be able to deal with the massive metal cube summoned by Vahn during her first moments in the Divine Realm, Yo was confident should would, at the very least, be able to shatter its surface and slow its fall. She could also escape from the side, but, understanding most foes would only use such an attack if there was something important at the impact site, Yo's goal was to become strong enough to destroy or prevent the cube's impact entirely...

Despite the conclusion of her final match, Yo elected to stay in her Vanargandr transformation. The sun had already descended over the 'horizon' so she actually felt even stronger than she had during the day. More importantly, however, was the fact it allowed her to track down Vahn.

After saying her farewells to the staff that had been very polite to her throughout the day, Yo made her way over to the entrance of the Royal Palace. A group of heavily outfitted Royal Guards barred her passage, but, upon confirming her identity, two of them split off to escort and show her to the Audience Chamber/Throne Room, aka the Chamber of Flames.

Stepping into the ornate red and gold chamber, Yo was surprised to find she was the only member of the No Names present. The moment she saw Vahn standing next to a young girl seated atop an excessively large throne, however, her confusion faded away as she exclaimed, "Vahn~!" in a happy tune.

Though it earned her a 'severe' look from the girl seated atop the throne, Yo, quite literally, leaped across the chamber in order to 'tackle' Vahn.

Despite Yo crashing into him, Vahn was able to thoroughly negate her momentum the moment she made contact with him. A wry smile developed across his face, not because he was concerned that Sandora may be upset, but because Yo didn't even try to moderate her actions. The faux tail behind her swayed like an excited puppy, her arms wrapping around him like a vice as she pressed her face, and, as a result, her rather ample bosoms against him.

Earning his own look from Sandora, Vahn returned Yo's affections by embracing her firmly enough to raise her feet from the ground. She enjoyed being picked up and practically smothered in a bear hug. It was one of her many quirks, but, considering there were women in his harem who enjoyed a number of extreme plays, Vahn didn't question it.

"I missed you..."

Rolling his eyes, Vahn set Yo down before ruffling her hair and saying, "It hasn't even been two days since our last encounter. Perhaps I'm spoiling you too much..."

Puffing out her cheeks, Yo maintained an adorable pout for several seconds before releasing it in the form of laughter. Then, with a friendly smile on her face, she turned to Sandora and said, "My name is Yo. Kasukabe Yo. You must be Princess Sandora-sama?"

Since it was pretty obvious Yo wasn't going to follow protocol, Sandora offered a curt nod before rising from her throne and answering, "Indeed. We are Sandora Doltrake, Northern Floor Master, Leader of Salamandra, and Crown Princess of the Salamandra Royal Family. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Kasukabe-san."

Taking Sandora by surprise, Yo waved her hand in a dismissive manner, her smile brightening as she said, "No need for such formalities. Others might not notice it, but I can smell Vahn's 'scent' all over you. If you're close with Vahn, that makes us friends! Maybe even sisters~!"

Opening her mouth, Sandora tried to speak but found herself unable to do so. Instead, a faint blush crept into her cheeks as she lowered her head and attempted to smell herself...

Covering the rather silly smile on her face, Yo excitedly exclaimed, "Uooooooh~!? Isn't it illegal to be this cute!?"

Having spent a considerable amount of time in the Sage Dragon's Hearth, Yo nearly pounced on Sandora without asking. Fortunately, Vahn was there to grab the collar of her jacket, his voice firm as he said, "Don't go hugging people without permission."

While he wasn't exactly a paragon when it came to following such advice, Vahn knew that Sandora wasn't accustomed to interacting with strangers. She had gradually opened her heart but the only person allowed inside at the present moment was himself. If others attempted to trespass of their own accord, there was no way of knowing how she would react.

Dragons could be very temperamental...

Fortunately for Yo, Vahn had, very recently, explained their relationship. Sandora could also tell Yo wasn't a bad person, so, before the latter could apologize, she adopted a friendly smile of her own and said, "It's okay, Vahn. Though this is our first time meeting, it would not be accurate to say that we are strangers. Rather, as Yo pointed out, we are united through a common...interest. I am not so self-centered as to prioritize my personal comfort over maintaining friendly relations with the other members of your harem..."

Taken aback by Sandora's eloquent yet overly serious speech, Yo found herself at a momentary loss for words. When she did return to her senses, she zeroed in on Sandora's final statement, a look of incredulity on her face as she turned to Vahn and asked, "What's going on...?"

Though Sandora and Vahn were covered in each other's scent, Yo never expected that the little girl standing before her was a member of the latter's harem. From what Lily had told her, she, Sandora, and Jin were all around the same age. Yo couldn't really imagine the kind and caring Vahn laying his hands on such a small girl...

Ruffling Yo's hair, a helpless expression developed across Vahn's face as he said, "Don't give me that look. Though Sandora and I have recently become engaged, we haven't engaged in any of the acts you seem to be thinking about. Get your head out of the gutter."

Supplying a playful wink and sticking her tongue out, Yo managed to escape Vahn's hand before turning to Sandora and asking, "Can I hug you~?" with one of the most radiant smiles the young Princess had ever seen.

After a moment of deliberation, Sandora swallowed the knot forming in her throat before nodding in approval. In response, Yo practically pounced on her, a somewhat goofy smile on her face as she picked Sandora up, squeezed her tightly, and spun her around. Sandora might look like a relatively normal girl but Yo could tell she was something much, much greater. To that end, Yo really wanted to be Sandora's friend.

Though Yo's breasts were practically smothering her, Sandora did her best to remain calm even as the bubbly brunette remarked, "You're a little heavier than I expected but your skin is so soft. I can tell you've been spending a lot of time with Vahn, haven't you~?"

Waiting until Yo finally released her, Sandora took a moment to fix her outfit before answering, "A dragon's bones and muscles are a lot denser than a normal human's. As for your comment about me spending a lot of time with Vahn..."

Shifting her attention towards Vahn, a rather potent blush developed across Sandora's face as she muttered, "He hasn't left my side at any point in the last three and a half days..."

Though the actual time they had spent together easily exceed a week, maybe two, Sandora often lost track of time when she and Vahn were just lounging about or talking. During those moments, he would always slow time to a crawl. It was a little disorienting, but, at the same time, it gave her the impression they had all the time in the world.

Pressing her finger on her lips, Yo appeared genuinely envious as she remarked, "Wow...I think the longest amount of time I've spent alone with Vahn was around eleven hours? I can't imagine even begin to imagine how relaxing it must be to spend several days together..."

Directing her gaze to Vahn, Yo made it pretty obvious she would like to spend more time together. At the very least, she wanted to experience what it was like to have his full and undivided attention for a full day...maybe ten...

Seeing the 'longing' in Yo's expression, Sandora couldn't help recalling the circumstances Vahn had revealed to her earlier in the day. He had also informed her that he was currently looking after Lily, so, after a moment of silence, she stated, "You don't have to imagine it. Though I have only recently come to know Vahn, I know he wouldn't refuse if you wanted to spend time together. It may not be my place to speak, but I find your 'restraint' in this matter to be pointless. You shouldn't delay your happiness for the sake of others..."

As Yo had already declared them more than friends, Sandora didn't want to see the bubbly brunette make the same mistakes she had. She would feel sorry for Jin, but, knowing Yo and Lily were both in love with Vahn, Sandora couldn't help wanting to support them.

Blushing rather fiercely in response to Sandora's admittedly rational advice, Yo briefly exchanged glances with Vahn before quickly averting her eyes and responding, "I'll think about it..." in a soft, uncharacteristically meek tone. The thing that made this scene most impactful, however, was the bushy tail swaying behind her. Yo had never dropped her Vanargandr transformation. As a result, her bashful bearing was thoroughly shattered by the enthusiastic wagging of her tail...

...

Though she had long since calmed down, Lily remained seated atop Vahn's lap for several hours. The notion she was wearing a mini skirt had crossed her mind more than once, but, unwilling to part with his warmth, she practically clung to him until he pat her back a few times and revealed, "Yo entered the Palace a short while ago. I imagine the others will be arriving soon..."

Raising her head, Lily's emerald green eyes searched Vahn's for several seconds before surprising him as she asked, "Can we stay like this a while longer? I'm feeling much better than before but I don't think my heart is prepared to see Jin...I...I would rather stay here with you..."

Punctuating her statement, Lily grasped the fabric of Vahn's yukata-like tunic while turning her eyes up at him in a clear attempt to incite his sympathy. At the same time, though there was no greater meaning behind it, she squeezed her legs together and leaned into him in a way that squashed her breasts against his chest. Were it not for his ability to sense and even interact with a person's aura, Vahn would have assumed she was making a very difficult kind of appeal. In reality, she just wanted to be as close as possible to his warmth...

Feeling a sense of responsibility towards both Jin and Lily, it was around this time that Vahn created the Template of Helena. At the same time, he held Lily so that her face and head were nestled into the nook between his neck and shoulder as he whispered, "I will stay with you as long as you need. However, at some point, you will need to face the outside. We both know you're not the type to run away from things like this...you're an incredibly strong and caring person, Lily. In terms of heart, you may very well be the strongest person I know..."

Though she was initially tempted to lose herself in Vahn's aroma, Lily couldn't help paying attention whenever he spoke. When she heard his remarks about how she was a strong and caring person, a wave of guilt immediately washed over her. Not because of the matter with Jin, but because she felt as though she was taking advantage of Vahn's kindness. In spite of this, she couldn't help herself. It was just so much 'easier' to entrust herself to Vahn than it was to make an effort...

Burying her face into the space between Vahn's neck and shoulder, a sour feeling began to spread through Lily's nose as she muttered, "Just...five more minutes..."

Caressing Lily's hair, Vahn's expression and tone softened immensely as he ran his fingers through her hair and said, "No...stay as long as you want. So long as you understand we'll eventually need to leave, I don't mind even if we stay here another five days, much less five minutes..."

Sniffling in response to Vahn's words, Lily tightened her embrace around him in a manner that made it appear as though she were trying to fuse their bodies together. She didn't know how she would face Jin and the others when they finally emerged, but, for the time being, the only thing she cared about was being as close as possible to the man that never failed to provide her with comfort and advice...

...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Yo used tackle...! It's not very-wait a minute...it's super effective!?','Sandora is a very rational young lady...','If not taken in moderation, Vahn is like a very powerful drug...')

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Bab 2268: Breakdown

While contemplating the words of the strange woman, Jin dragged his feet to the Royal Palace only to encounter Izayoi and Asuka approaching from the opposite direction.

"Oh? Is that our fearless Leader I spy...?"

Though he noticed the distinct absence of Lily and the fact Jin was looking more than a little worse for wear, Izayoi continued on as usual. He could be serious when he had to, but, unless the situation was dire, he rarely adjusted his behavior as a courtesy to others.

A stark contrast to Izayoi, Asuka's brows furrowed slightly as she asked, "Jin, where's Lily? Don't tell me you left her all alone or let her run off without you..."

Drooping his shoulders, Jin's expression became more melancholic than usual as he answered, "She disappeared before I could chase after her..."

With an expression that showed she didn't buy Jin's excuse one bit, Asuka retorted, "Do you expect me to believe that? With Shundo, you should have no trouble catching up even if Lily had a massive head start. If you didn't see her, it meant she was probably hiding somewhere nearby. Did you even bother searching?"

Though he had reached a similar conclusion earlier, Lily's refusal to answer his telepathic messages led Jin to believe she didn't want to even speak with him, much less be found. Since he didn't want to make things worse, he didn't even try looking for her. Instead, he chose to give her some space so they could both cool down...

Seeing Jin avert his eyes with an ashamed look on his face, a sudden and intense desire to lecture her would-be Leader manifested in Asuka's heart. Before she could go off on him, however, Izayoi inclined his head towards the group of heavily armored guardsmen nearby before saying, "There is no sense in talking about this outside. Our first priority should be finding Lily and making sure she's okay. It's pretty late so there's a good chance she's already checked in. We should do the same and then ask around."

Following Izayoi's gaze, Asuka noticed around twenty guards and two rather large wyverns staring at them from a distance. She still intended to give Jin a piece of her mind, but, understanding the reasoning within Izayoi's words, she eventually nodded her head and said, "Very well. If the Leader of Salamandra really is childhood friends with Jin and Lily, there is a good chance the latter's inside. Even if she isn't, we should be able to get a search party together if we fail to reach her."

As he was just about to make a similar argument, the corners of Izayoi's smile curled upward as he remarked, "Wow, brains and beauty. Seems like I hit the jackpot..."

Rolling her eyes, Asuka lightly bumped Izayoi with her shoulder before adopting a far more serious expression as she practically glared at Jin, asking, "What do you think we should do, Jin? Since you came all this way, I suppose you had something similar in mind...?"

Though his intentions were slightly different, Jin didn't hesitate before nodding his head. In truth, he suspected that Vahn had something to do with the fact Lily wasn't responding to him. He would sometimes try to contact her whenever she went to him for one of her 'consultations'. Areas under the influence of time compression had a strange effect on Telepathy. It was possible to establish a connection but the messages, more often than not, wouldn't go through. Even if they did, it would generally come out sounding like an auditory hallucination or a sudden, indecipherable blip.

"I'm pretty sure Lily is inside. The only other possibility is that she returned home but I can't imagine her doing such a thing without telling at least one of us..."

Seeing through Jin's thoughts, Izayoi remarked, "Seems like you stumbled upon the correct answer. I heard a couple of people talking about how the Sage Dragon Emperor has come to the North in order to form a 'union' with the Leader of Salamandra. It hasn't been announced to the public but there was apparently a pretty high-profile party a few days ago."

Showing even more surprise than Jin, Asuka asked, "What? Is that true? I didn't hear a single person talking about it. And what do you mean by forming a union? Don't tell me..."

Before Izayoi could confirm Asuka's suspicions, Jin's expression became noticeably more serious as he promptly ignored them to approach the group of guards keeping an eye on them. He had never discussed it with Izayoi, Asuka, and Yo, but Sandora was actually the first girl he ever had a crush on. If not for the downfall of his former Community, the kidnapping and subsequent return of Lily, and the abrupt annulment of their Alliance, there was a good chance they would have become a couple.

("Vahn...why is it always you? Will you not rest until you've taken everything from me...?")

Ignoring the fact that Vahn was one of the reasons Lily had given him a chance in the first place, Jin made his way into the Royal Palace with Izayoi and Asuka following close behind. The layout hadn't changed much since he was a child, so, even without an escort to show him the way, he was able to navigate to the Chamber of Flames without the need for a detour.

Though they were briefly obstructed by the Royal Guards guarding the chamber, it didn't take long for the trio of No Names to be granted permission to enter. When they did, Jin's heart immediately sank. Not only was Lily standing next to Vahn, but, even from a distance, he could make out the ring glistening on Sandora's finger.

"Jin~! It's been so long~!"

Since the only people in the throne room were people she trusted, Sandora momentarily shed her Royal bearing as she ran towards Jin with an excited smile on her face. It had been years since their last encounter, and, as Vahn had mentioned, he had matured into a very handsome and intelligent-looking young man.

Surprised that Sandora would run over to him, Jin habitually opened his arms only to feel awkward when she suddenly slowed down and asked, "How have you been? I really wanted to come and visit but my father and brother wouldn't allow it."

Lowering his arms, Jin did his best to conceal his embarrassment behind a serious expression as he answered, "I've been well. Things were looking pretty grim for a time, but they got a lot better once Vahn showed up..."

Directing his gaze towards Vahn, Jin had mixed feelings about the current situation. A part of him, deep within, was incensed beyond compare. At the same time, however, his gratitude towards Vahn made it difficult to truly resent the man. Vahn had rescued the No Names from their plight, restored their territory to its former glory, empowered its members, provided them with functionally endless resources, and shielded them from harm. He was also Jin's personal mentor, and, in many ways, the only reason he had been able to become as powerful as he had...

"Jin...?"

Returning his attention to concerned-looking Sandora, Jin figured he may as well confirm things directly, asking, "I heard you and Vahn were getting married? If so...I suppose some congratulations are in order..."

Though she felt a pang of guilt hearing Jin mention her betrothal, Sandora managed a smile as she nodded her head and answered, "You've heard correctly. Shortly after the formation of the Aldrnari Empire, I penned a letter inquiring if Vahn would be willing to become my partner. I was worried he would refuse in the beginning but he ended up saying yes after confirming I wasn't being coerced. He's a lot more considerate than most people think."

Hearing Sandora mention that she was the one that approach Vahn, Jin found himself at a complete and utter loss for words. He had assumed that Vahn had come to the north seeking to form a union for the sake of expanding the Empire. Instead, it was the exact opposite...

Feeling a little unsteady, Jin had to channel magical energy through his mind and body to maintain the illusion of calm. Then, with a clearly forced smile on his face, he said, "I'm happy for you...I really am..."

Noticing the contrast between Jin's words and his expression, visible concern appeared in Sandora's as she asked, "Jin? Are you okay...?"

Chuckling in an unnatural manner, Jin's smile became noticeably distorted as he answered, "I'm fine. Vahn is a truly incredible person. I mean, he already has well over a hundred lovers, but I'm sure you'll be happy together. He is Vahn, after all."

Despite his best efforts to remain calm, everyone present could see Jin trembling as a layer of moisture gradually developed across his eyes.

"Jin..."

Feeling responsible for Jin's current state, Sandora was about to step forward to give him a hug when Lily shouted, "Just stop already! Stop comparing yourself to Vahn and worrying about what other people think! Why are you so afraid to just be yourself!? You're an amazing person, Jin! Why can't you see that!?"

With tears rolling down her cheeks, Lily shouted in anguish for the first time since she was forcibly separated from her mother. She just couldn't understand what Jin was thinking. He was supposed to be a calm, caring, and rational person, but, ever since he returned from the Game Board, it was like he had become a completely different person. There was a possessive glimmer in his eye and he acted like everyone, even the people who helped him, were out to steal things from him.

Blaming herself for allowing Jin to enter the Game Board, Lily took a step forward with the intent to console him. The moment she did so, however, Jin's expression became desperate as he exclaimed, "You're telling me to stop!? I haven't even done anything! All I want is for things to slow down or go back to the way they were! You're the one that keeps pushing me to do things I'm not ready for! I'm trying to get strong enough to protect everyone but you keep dragging me off-"

Before Jin could finish, Sandora surprised him with a slap to the face. Her intention was to help him come to his senses, but, after a moment of stunned silence, a glimmer of indignant fury appeared in the depths of Jin's teal-green eyes. His right hand balled into a fist, but, before he could even think to throw it, Vahn appeared between him and Sandora.

"That's enough, kid...you're letting your anger cloud your judgment. Everyone here is either a friend or an ally. Calm down and let's talk thing through..."

Seeing Vahn appear before him, Jin began hyperventilating. He wanted nothing more than to beat the man's face, but, before he could muster the courage, Vahn left him feeling at a loss by suddenly pulling him into a firm, almost smothering hug.

"This isn't you, Jin. You are not the kind of wrathful person that would strike your own friends. Think about what you just tried to do..."

Though he was about to try and struggle free from Vahn's embrace, Jin stopped when he heard the former's calm yet penetrating voice. The notion that he was about to punch an eleven-year-old girl caused a shudder to run through his body. To make matters worse, the girl was supposed to be one of his best friends. Though he had ultimately chosen Lily, Sandora still occupied a very special place in his heart. Had he actually struck her, he never would have forgiven himself...

With tears pouring down his face, Jin's body began to tremble violently as he leaned into Vahn and asked, "What's wrong with me...?"

Shaking his head, Vahn tightened his hold on Jin's body, warmth exuding from his own as he softly replied, "Nothing at all...it's just as you said. You weren't ready..."

...

(A/N: This is the last chapter for this month until I've reached my first patron goal.)

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