章 2075: Provisional
"You want to awaken the powers of the senior group...?"
Though he nodded his head in response to Jin's question, Vahn also stated, "Not just the seniors. I intend to awaken your and Lily's hidden powers as well. I already explained the concept of Innates to you. I intend to give you Gifts related to the ones you currently possess. After that, we'll go over the Quest Board and a few other important details related to the growth of yourself and the senior members of the No Names."
As appreciative as he was of Vahn's words, Jin couldn't help feeling taken aback. Vahn had been pretty resolute in regards to the notion of obtaining power rather than having it bestowed upon you. It was one of the principal ideologies he had been trying to instill in them so it was strange to hear him mention handing out Gifts all of a sudden.
Noticing the doubt in Jin's eyes, Vahn adopted a wry smile as he said, "This is just a provisionary thing. In other words, the Gifts I'm going to hand out are training tools similar to a wooden sword or an elementary spellbook. They are intended to help you awaken powers you already possess, not provide power beyond your means to obtain. I intend to have everyone sign a contract with terms lasting for six months. After that, the Gifts I have bestowed will be returned."
Though this was the first time he was hearing about a contract related to lending Gifts, a smile developed across Jin's face as he replied, "I understand. Thank you for this opportunity, Vahn. I promise we will do our best."
Ruffling the youthful Magus' hair, Vahn returned a smile of his own as he said, "I have no doubt about that. All you and the other No Names really need is time. I figured I can guarantee you at least six months."
While it wasn't a 'perfect' solution, Vahn had come to the conclusion that he could assist the No Names by spinning the narrative that he had accepted a contract to safeguard them. This wouldn't jeopardize his neutrality as one of the services he intended to offer in the future was protection for burgeoning Communities. He was even tempted to start a Gift Lending service, but that would have to wait until he had worked out all the kinks related to his current business model.
Extracting his hand from the youth's head, Vahn said, "I'll leave spreading the news and gathering the others to you. We'll perform the signing ceremony this evening. For now, I'm off to summon a few new recruits to act as Guardians during the provisional period. They'll ultimately belong to the Sage Dragon's Hearth, but, much like how Black Rabbit is able to work for Thousand Eyes, I'll have the two of them act as temporary representatives for the No Names."
Blinking in surprise, Jin was about to ask if that was such a good idea when Vahn just shook his head and said, "We're well past that point, kiddo. Besides, I'm interested to see what you'll do if you have powerful people on your side. You are the Leader of the No Names. It's time you begin acting like it."
Though his words were a little harsh, Vahn knew that Jin needed to hear them. His low self-esteem was one of his greatest weaknesses. This was an opportunity for him to gain experience and build the confidence he would need to lead the No Names into the future. If he couldn't, someone else would need to take his place as he simply wasn't qualified to continue leading others.
On that note, Vahn promptly teleported away. This left Jin alone in the Library with a conflicted look on his face. Fortunately, if nothing else, he had a good head on his shoulders. He could understand what needed to be done, so, after a few moments of silence, he gave his cheeks a few light smacks before departing the Library to spread the news and gather his future comrades...
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Having already discussed the matter with Black Rabbit, Sarina, Nono, and Shirayukihime, Vahn's next destination was the Outer Gate leading to the God's Playground. There, the four girls were waiting for him with varying degrees of excitement and perturbation visible in their gazes.
"I hope I didn't keep you waiting for too long."
Though she was the only one of the girls that didn't belong to his Community, it was Black Rabbit who answered, "It's no problem, Vahn. We just arrived a few minutes ago." with an expectant smile on her face. Summoning new Players, much less Demon Lords, to the Divine Realm was always a big deal so she couldn't help feeling excited.
Returning a smile of his own, Vahn habitually caressed the heads of Sarina and Nono as he said, "I don't expect anything to go wrong but you'll need to prepare yourselves. Two of the people I'll be calling upon are Demon Lords. They also come from a world with heavy comedic overtones so it's impossible to predict how they'll behave once summoned."
Since he had already mentioned that the people he would be summoning were Demon Lords, the only person to react with any discernible aversion was Sarina. Vahn had also mentioned that one of the people that would be joining them was one of his most important, so, despite making a lot of progress over the past few weeks, she wasn't particularly enthused by the notion of adding more women to their Community...
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After moving a fair distance away from the Little Garden, Vahn produced a rather large magic circle before filling it with a tremendous volume of refined magical ores. One of the fundamental laws of the Divine Realm happened to be 'Equivalent Exchange' so it required a catalyst and a tremendous amount of resources to summon people from the lower realms. This amount, as could be expected, was directly proportional to the power of the individuals being summoned, so, with Seraphina and Usalia having become two of the strongest Overlords in their Netherworld, Vahn needed to prepare a veritable mountain of resources just to send them an invitation.
"I don't think I've ever seen this much wealth and resources gathered in one place...just who are you trying to summon?"
Since the summoning ritual could take upwards of an hour, Vahn only paid cursory attention to it as he turned towards Black Rabbit and answered, "Their names are Seraphina and Usalia. They existed in the world I passed through before arriving in the Divine Realm. As for their official titles...I believe the former is the Supreme Overlord of Gorgeous while the latter is known as the Tyrant Overlord of Toto Bunny."
To make things easier for the girls, Vahn created magical projections of the two girls he was talking about. The appearance of Seraphina was enough to leave even Hime feeling at a loss, but, as could be expected, the person Black Rabbit paid the most attention to was Usalia. After all, despite a few startling contrasts, the latter was still a bunny girl.
"This little girl is a Demon Lord...?"
Rather than Black Rabbit, the first person to ask about Usalia's status was Sarina. From appearances alone, she felt they were around the same age as each other. Unfortunately, Vahn quickly shattered this misunderstanding by answering, "Indeed. Don't let her appearance deceive you. She should be around 1815 years old in this image. The physiology of demons is quite a bit different from normal people. After all, they have no biological limits in regards to age and potential."
"1815...!?"
Feeling as though she had taken critical damage, the only thing preventing Sarina from falling over was Vahn's support. She felt that Usalia was a lot cuter than she was, and, despite doing her best to feign ignorance, she was well aware of the relationship between Vahn and Black Rabbit. Thus, with Usalia possessing rabbit-like features, Sarina couldn't help feeling as though she had lost the battle before it had even begun.
Resisting the urge to chuckle at the young girl's expense, Vahn manifested a picnic blanket out of thin air before guiding her to sit down and saying, "We might be waiting for a while. Why don't we enjoy a meal in the process?"
Despite saying this, Vahn didn't join Sarina after guiding her to take a seat. Instead, he manifested his own Little Garden without offering any explanation, his thoughts briefly seeping into it before returning it to the safety of his Soul Realm. Then, much to the surprise of everyone present, he used Unit Management to instantaneously summon Fenrir to his side.
"Master~!"
Though it had only been a few days since their last meeting, Fenrir immediately pounced on Vahn as if this was their first meeting in decades. Then, causing everyone but Nono to blush, she sealed his lips with her own, her inordinately fully tail wagging happily as she stood on the very tips of her toes.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Feeling Fenrir's overwhelmingly happy emotions surge into him, it was difficult for Vahn not to adopt a goofy grin of his own as he grabbed her shoulders and teasingly mused, "Someone's excited..."
"Mouuuu...Master has become stingy..."
Though he knew she was just playing around, Vahn couldn't help laughing in response to Fenrir's adorably pouty words. Then, with his hand snaked around her exposed back, he gestured towards the peanut gallery and said, "Fenrir, I'd like to introduce you to the newest members of our family. From left to right we have Sarina, Black Rabbit, Nono, and Shirayukihime. Soon enough, we'll have two more additions. Please help me look after them."
Passing her gaze over everyone as they were introduced, Fenrir's scarlet eyes glistened as she set her eyes on Black Rabbit and said, "You're strong..." as if she were stating a cold hard fact. Before Black Rabbit could respond, however, Fenrir shifted her gaze to Sarina and said, "You shouldn't let your emotions get the better of you. Master likes obedient girls who get along with others. You'll only cause-"
Not expecting Fenrir to begin her proselytism so quickly, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as she said, "Now, now, there's no need for that. Sarina has made considerable progress since our first meeting. Don't be too harsh on her, okay?"
Nodding her head in affirmation, Fenrir shifted her attention to Shirayukihime next, asking, "Are you a God? I smell Divinity on you."
Offering a polite bow in response, Hime answered, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Fenrir-sama. And yes, I received Divinity from Shiroyasha-sama. At the present moment, I serve our Master as the Head Maid and Governess of the Sage Dragon's Hearth. Please treat me well."
Approving of Hime's behavior, Fenrir nodded her head before looking up at Vahn and saying, "She has potential. Can I train her?"
Since she could sense the water, ice, and yin elemental energies swirling around Hime's body, Fenrir was confident in her ability to help her grow. Unfortunately, her words didn't translate well without additional context. As a result, the surrounding temperature noticeably increased as Hime imagined what she meant by 'training'.
Unable to contain himself, a rather boisterous laugh emanated from Vahn's throat. He knew it was only a matter of time before Fenrir caused some kind of misunderstanding but he hadn't imagined it would be so soon. Fortunately, his laughter didn't continue for too long as the summoning circle behind him promptly flashed with a vibrant light before blinking out entirely.
In the past, this particular phenomenon had caused quite a few people to think their invitation had been refused. In reality, the Divine Realm simply forbade direct summons into its interior. Instead, it 'spawned' new arrivals just outside the invisible dome covering the sun-sized island. In other words, Seraphina and Usalia were currently falling towards the ground like pink and white meteors due to the restrictions preventing them from flying...
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Politics is all about spinning a narrative...','The High Priestess of the Good Girl Faith has arrived~!','I wonder how many people have heart attacks when being summoned into the Divine Realm...?')
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章 2076: Convergence
With the sound of a girlish shrill growing ever louder, Vahn decided against waiting for Seraphina and Usalia to reach the ground. The spell was designed to arrest their momentum just before they impacted the forest floor, but, for the sake of smoothing things over and making the conversation to come a little easier, he sprouted a pair of wings from his back before bolting into the sky like a golden meteor...
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"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa~! What the hell is this!? I'm too beautiful to die! Usalia! Save meeeeeeeee~!"
With her wings failing to provide any life, Seraphina couldn't help flailing her arms and legs as her speed towards the ground continued to increase. As for the white-haired rabbit at her side, Usalia, she maintained a completely neutral expression, saying, "Stop whining." in a cold monotone.
"How cruel...!"
Rolling her eyes in response to Seraphina's outburst, the malicious black claws protruding from Usalia's paws became noticeably longer as she focused her attention on the golden meteor that was approaching them. She didn't sense any danger, but, just in case, a violent white aura began to exude from her body as she extended her rapidly enlarging paw to grab Seraphina's body. She had a unique ability that allowed her to manipulate the size and shape of her body, and, under specific circumstances, the bodies of others.
"K-Kyuuk...!"
Feeling her body crushed beneath Usalia's ludicrous strength, a rather unladylike croak emanated from Seraphina's throat as she immediately regretted asking for the former's assistance. Fortunately for them both, the golden light wasn't an enemy. Rather, much to Seraphina's satisfaction, it ended up being a remarkably handsome man with golden wings, dark hair, and vibrant aquamarine eyes.
With a wave of his hand, Vahn was able to dissipate the energy compelling Seraphina and Usalia to fall to the ground. At the same time, he gradually arrested their momentum until they slowed to a stop, a friendly smile on his face as he said, "Welcome to the Divine Realm. I'm glad you accepted my invitation."
Feeling an invisible force keeping them afloat, Usalia released Seraphina from her grasp so that the latter could say, "Oh-hohohohoho~! So you're the one who dared to summon the great and noble Lady Seraphina? You've got a lot of explaining to do if you want to avoid spending the rest of your inconsequential existence beneath my heels~!"
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn briefly inspected Seraphina's body. She had matured quite a bit since the last time he saw her. She had a perfect hourglass figure, fluffy pink hair fashioned into a fashionable bun, and, rather than the Fleet Admiral's outfit she had been wearing at the time of her death, her current outfit consisted of a butterfly-themed dress with a 'very' high cut above her left leg. This would have stood out on its own, but, rather than something more sensible, the dress was designed in such a way that the fabric between the butterflies was transparent. This, combined with the fact she wasn't wearing undergarments, created quite the sight to behold...
Shaking his head, Vahn surprised both Seraphina and Usalia by spontaneously transforming into a golden Prinny. The transition from a lower realm to the Divine Realm caused a causal convergence, so, despite having her memories of him erased, it didn't take long for Seraphina to recognize Vahn, her pupils shrinking as she pointed towards him and shouted, "It's you...!"
Raising his flipper, Vahn responded with a curt, "Yo." before teleporting to the side as Seraphina attempted to kick him in the face with her inordinately sharp heels. His dodging only served to set her off even further, her face turning bright red as she shouted, "Hold still, you peg-legged piece of shit! If you don't let me get at least one good hit on you, I...I'll never forgive you...!"
Since the Divine Realm prevented Players from using their full power outside of Gift Games, Vahn responded by letting Seraphina's hit connect directly with the center of his forehead. This caused a shockwave to ripple outward, but, despite the power contained within the kick, neither he nor the surrounding environment took a bit of damage.
"Huh...?"
Returning to his 'true' form, Vahn grabbed Seraphina's ankle before moving her foot away from his face, releasing it as he said, "We have much to discuss. For now, let's land. There are a few people I want to introduce you to before we talk about why I sent you an invitation."
Without missing a beat, Seraphina stated, "They better not be women. That invitation letter of yours said I would be able to find the man of my dreams if I accepted. I won't forgive you if you spent the last thousand years playing around while I was working my butt off."
Before Vahn could offer a response of his own, Usalia chimed in to remark, "If that was true, your butt wouldn't be so big..."
"How rude! I'll have you know my butt strikes a perfect balance between shape and pliability! Are you trying to call me fat!?"
Rather than respond to Seraphina's outburst, Usalia just stared at her for several seconds before turning her attention to Vahn and asking, "Can you really bring back my parents...?"
Recalling the contents of the letters Shiroyasha had given him, Vahn nodded his head, saying, "I could even try summoning them now if you really want me to. The hardest part is providing a proper justification and finding an appropriate time to summon them. Not everyone is so willing to ascend to the Divine Realm."
Though she wasn't particularly known for her complex reasoning, Usalia only fell silent for several seconds before shaking her head and saying, "No. It's fine. Just knowing I can meet them again is enough. For now, I want to familiarize myself with the Divine Realm. If it's too dangerous, I will put off summoning them until I can make it safe..."
Nodding his head in approval, Vahn was about to say something when Seraphina suddenly asked, "Hey, Vahn, do you think my butt is fat? Be honest."
Since she had half-turned to show off her bottom, Vahn's eyes were naturally drawn to Seraphina's rather voluminous backside. Her Succubus heritage ensured that her proportions were remarkably close to perfect, so, while her butt was certainly larger than average, her thick thighs, long legs, and shapely figure balanced it out.
"If you're asking for my honest opinion, I'd have to say you look amazing. Your dress is more than a little ridiculous, but, other than that, you're one of the most beautiful women I've ever met."
Though she was moderately irked by his comment regarding her choice of attire, Seraphina's face beamed when she heard Vahn's flattering remark. At the same time, however, she couldn't help but notice he said "one of" the most beautiful women. This implied that he had met women who were even more beautiful than her. This was something she couldn't accept, so, after quickly recovering from her brief euphoria, she asked, "One of? Implying you've met women even more attractive? I'm not trying to brag, but my beauty is touted throughout the multiverse. If you can't provide proof, I'll have to ask you to revise your statement. I don't settle for second place."
Shaking his head, Vahn answered, "I'll introduce you to them later. For now, there are others waiting to meet you. We'll talk more once everything has been settled."
Crossing her arms in a manner that emphasized her ample bosom, Seraphina was tempted to press the matter further. The only thing that prevented her from doing so was the fact she had countless questions to ask him, chief among them being why he was no longer a Prinny. Her memories might have been erased but their brief encounter had left a deep impression on her heart and mind. Thus, as fond as she was of his current appearance, a part of her felt disconcerted regarding the fact that he wasn't a Prinny...
"Very well. However, I expect a full explanation later. I won't forgive you if you try to make excuses or keep secrets from me. I even picked this outfit in order to make a good first impression. If you're supposed to be the man of my dreams, you need to start acting like it."
Though he couldn't help smiling wryly in response, Vahn's tone softened as he said, "Don't worry. I can't promise to meet all of your expectations but I can assure you that you'll be happier here than in the Netherworld."
Snorting through her nose, Seraphina resisted the urge to tell him to prove it. Instead, she looked towards the ground, her eyes glistening with a mystical light as she muttered, "They're all women..." in a dissatisfied tone.
Shaking his head, Vahn decided to throw caution to the wind as he teleported next to Seraphina and promptly picked her up in a bridal carry. This greatly startled the pink-haired Demoness, but, before she could open her mouth to protest, he preemptively sealed it with a kiss.
Surprised by Vahn's sudden action, Seraphina's pupils shrank to the size of pinholes. At the same time, however, a deluge of heat spread through her body that made her feel as though she was melting from the inside. This was accompanied by a pleasant and intoxicating buzz in her mind, almost as if she had just sampled the most potent yet flavorful alcohol in the multiverse.
A stark contrast to how most women would have acted in a similar situation, Seraphina's instincts compelled her to reciprocate Vahn's ostensibly invasive and irrefutably lascivious actions. Even her tail, reminiscent of a reddish-purple whip with a heart-shaped tip, came out to play. She normally did her best to keep this carefully concealed, as, despite being a powerful magical catalyst, the tip of a Succubus' tail was inarguably their most sensitive spot.
Fully aware of this, Vahn snatched Seraphina's tail before she could even think to retract it. Even this was enough to elicit a sensual squeal from the depths of her throat. When he began massaging the heart-shaped tip, far more sonorous sounds began to echo through their surroundings as her body twitched and writhed in his embrace...
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With Seraphina curling up in his arms with a contented smile on her face, a wry smile developed across Vahn's face as he shifted his attention to Usalia. He was going to suggest that they begin their descent, but, the moment he looked towards the inordinately petite bunny, she beat him to the punch, saying, "I'm not an exhibitionist. If you want me to be your mate, you'll need to cook a meal I can enjoy. My favorite foods are curry and carrots. I also like the taste of raw meat but only if it's from freshly slaughtered prey. If you feed me something that has been preserved or processed, I'll take a bite out of you instead. Don't forget."
"..."
Though he was tempted to say he had no interest in the 130cm tall rabbit, that argument wouldn't hold up once she met Black Rabbit and interacted with the more petite members of his harem. Her bestial traits also guaranteed that she would be spending time with Fenrir, so, even if she wasn't in his strike zone, that had rarely mattered. She was cute, of age, and had a tragic background. Unless she demonstrated some kind of aversion towards him, it was likely only a matter of time before her adorable qualities whittled away at his inhibitions.
Realizing that this train of thought was the first sign of his waning resistances, Vahn's smile became even wrier as he said, "I'll keep that in mind." Then, without looking back to see if she was following, he began his descent towards the ground. As a result, he didn't notice the teasing smile on Usalia's face, her pure white tuft of a tail twitching as she quickly followed after him...
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Stronk bunny...','Momo would like to know your location...','The Aggroli is about to turn into the Predoli...')
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