章節 1328: Ripples : Waves
While engaging in conversation with Touko back in her cottage, Vahn was also back in his workshop alongside Da Vinci and Sophia, the latter of whom was currently working on an airtight suit as she had recently taken an interest in outer space.
Having succeeded in his prank, Vahn pulled out a small black orb from his Inventory, a smile on his face as he explained, "Your [Battle Sphere] ended up working perfectly. Touka didn't even realize she was inside a [Space-Time Orb] at all."
Rather than an illusion, the trick Vahn used against Touko merely involved using a modified [Space-Time Orb], one which had a much larger radius. It was able to pull everyone within a certain distance into a near-perfect replica of the surrounding space, making it nearly impossible to ascertain what had happened. This was something he and Da Vinci had worked on together and, in many ways, it could be compared to a portable [Reality Marble].
Hearing Vahn's tone, Da Vinci gave him a knowing look before saying, "Your bad habit always comes to the surface when you are stressed out. Make sure you don't tease her too much. Cold women like that are weak to men who are capable of peeling away their defenses."
Though he didn't ignore her advice, Vahn shrugged in response to Da Vinci's words, explaining, "I'm pretty sure she is aware of Aoko's intentions. She tried to seduce me with one of her Puppets so it was a good opportunity to tease her a bit. Don't worry, I'm not in a particular hurry to increase the number of women that need my attention..."
Toward the end of his words, Vahn sent Da Vinci a wink, earning a light chuckle from her before she turned back to her current project. This was the same as her telling him, 'you can leave now' so, after checking in on Sophia's progress, Vahn did just that. He had already been in the Workshop for a few hours and, while his presence wasn't that much of a distraction, Da Vinci had a lot of active projects that required her attention. Since most of these were the direct result of his requests, Vahn knew it was best to give her space to work.
---
With the usual trio following his primary vessel around, Vahn decided to make good on his earlier promise, choosing the Menagerie as his destination. Unfortunately, just as he sent his intent to the room in question, he noticed that Aoko had stopped by with Fenrir. This complicated matters a bit so, after a few moments of contemplation, Vahn took a deep breath before releasing a long sigh as he chose the [Training Orb] as his next destination. He was curious about Scáthach's new apprentice and, as he had the time to do so, he decided to make some headway on her challenges.
After dragging his feet over to the [Training Orb], Vahn entered into the cold interior to find a small house a few dozen meters from the entrance. He didn't even have time to probe it with his senses, however, when Scáthach appeared like a blur at his side, asking, "What are your intentions, Master?"
Though Scáthach could easily guess Vahn's purpose for visiting at this time, she still made a point of giving him the option. He was the type that worked harder when he said he would do something so, while he may have arrived with the intention to work hard, having him express his intention openly ensured he would work even harder.
Vahn was, of course, perfectly aware of Scáthach's intentions but, as she was his Shishou, he couldn't really foot around the issue. Rather, if he tried to do so, a severe training regimen would await him in the near future, something he could handle but almost instinctually feared. Thus, in response to her question, he brought his mind to a state of focus before confidently stating, "I am here to complete one of your challenges. The world may be in disorder but that doesn't mean I can ignore my other duties, does it?"
With a curt nod of her head, the Caster version of Scáthach appeared and, before Vahn could change his mind and inquire about her new apprentice, he was transported towards the challenge grounds. He had already completed the task of pulling the statue, increasing his physical parameters by a truly monstrous amount, so his next challenge was one that directly tested his willpower and focus. This was achieved by having him sit in a lotus position as hundreds of needle-like barbs hovered a single millimeter away from his skin...
Any slight movement would cause the barbs to prick Vahn's skin and, as a result, he would be wracked with intense pain. To ensure he couldn't adapt to the pain, each barb had a unique curse placed on them and, to prevent him from simply 'shutting down', some of the barbs would move to stab into his skin at random intervals, requiring him to muster an immediate counter to the effect if he wanted to avoid triggering a chain-reaction.
While each of these variables made the challenge difficult, the straw that broke the camel's back was the fact that Scáthach herself would tease and taunt him. She would, at times, perform highly skilled stripteases while, at others, she would ask very difficult questions she knew he couldn't really ignore. This often related to his true feelings, various troubles he was currently facing, and sometimes even involved existential conundrums that related to concepts of eternity and loss...
This time around, Scáthach seemed to have realized why he had chosen to come for training so, in order to take advantage of his current state, her purple garb seemed to dissolve, taking on the form of an ornate, slightly transparent, bikini. She then sat in front of him, her legs forming an m-shape as a seductive glimmer reflected in her maroon-red eyes. At the same time, the barbs aiming at various pressure points and meridians began to vibrate slightly, masking their movements so that he would not be able to discern which was moving until it had already pricked his skin...
---
Vahn had been enjoying Touko's tense state but, after his training with Scáthach began, he was no longer in the mood to tease others. His current challenge required a lot of focus so it became a lot harder to engage others in a proactive manner. Since he didn't want to show any weakness in front of Aoko's sister, Vahn ultimately ended up bringing an end to the discussion. This resulted in Touko herself breathing a sigh of relief as, after what she had experienced, her mind had been racing to try and make sense of what happened...
After parting with Touko, who politely escorted him to the door, Vahn turned his eyes skyward and said, "I'm going to go meditate for a bit. Wait for me back in the Menagerie, okay? I'll be there in a few hours..."
With that said, Vahn teleported atop the back of Leviathan but, rather than meditate, he plopped onto his back and just shut off his senses completely. The frigid air and high winds were calming so, while his training with Scáthach was difficult, in many ways, he at least had a way to passively calm himself down. He had already learned the futility of trying to enter a meditative state during this particular challenge so it was better to just embrace the feeling of nothingness that he had become intimately familiar with.
---
Around the same time that Vahn was being tormented by Scáthach, Zelretch was making good on his previous words. Almost immediately after his parting with Vahn, he explained the situation to the fatigued Solon before teleporting to the top of Mount Chimborazo, the geological location that was the closest point to the moon. Here, space was twisted in the extreme, to the point that much of the mountain's peak was filled with pockets of vacuum that would rend apart the flesh of anyone who foolishly ventured too close.
Rather than show any concern for the twisting of space, Zelrech lifted his cane so that the top was aiming towards a specific point in space. Then, after more than half the cane had vanished into the void, he turned it in much the same was as a key.
Immediately after Zelretch unlocked the surrounding space, a massive set of stone doors appeared. They slowly opened, revealing a cold and desolate space that, on the periphery, appeared to be the night sky. Leading from the edge of the gateway, a set of pale white steps led into this seemingly endless starry void while, at the end of the pathway, a massive castle floated within the void while, above it, a miniature crimson moon served as the only other landmark within view.
Seeing the familiar sight once again, Zelretch released a tired sigh, one filled with emotions such as remorse and self-admonition. The cane in his hand suddenly felt heavier than before and, with each step that brought him closer to the castle, Zelretch imagined he was aging by several decades. This place represented one of his only true regrets in life as, due to his unwillingness to act, an innocent soul had been forced to undergo unimaginable suffering...
Though it felt like thousands of years had passed, Zelretch soon found himself at the entrance to the castle. The massive metal gates had already opened so, without further hesitation, he made his way into the heart of the castle. There, a throne far too large for a human to sit upon existed, one which held an indescribably beautiful woman with golden hair. She was slouched over, her head hanging low, arms spread wide as dozens of chains bound her body, each a self-imposed restraint to keep her immeasurable power in check.
Further adding to the tragedy of the scene, the woman seemed to be wearing a gown that was not all that dissimilar to a wedding dress. It was a pristine white gown trimmed with gold that gave the bound woman an appearance similar to a princess. This was a stark contrast to the dark silver chains that bound her body, each flickering with divine light, the purpose of which was to siphon away the woman's power, spewing it out into the surrounding void to make the seemingly infinite space even vaster...
Zelretch felt a discernible pain in his heart when he saw this sight but, before he could say anything, it felt like a stake was driven into his chest as the woman, without raising her head, asked, "Is it finally time...?"
Hearing this question, Zelretch couldn't help but hang his head, silence overtaking him for several minutes. Fortunately, a long life had prepared his mind better than most so, while an overwhelming amount of guilt threatened to devour him, he ultimately regained his calm and answered, "Arcueid...I came here today, not to use you as a weapon, but to liberate you from this prison. Many things have changed since you last walked the earth. Please, see with your own eyes how things have changed...it is not too late to reclaim the hope you lost..."
Though she kept her head down throughout Zelretch's dialogue, the golden-haired woman lifted her face when he fell silent. This revealed blood-red eyes through the golden locks, each glowing with a fierce light. It was enough to even make Zelretch's old bones ache as, while she was not as powerful as the original, the current Arcueid was nearly as powerful as Crimson Moon. In Vahn's terms, she would be a Tier 5 existence, one not all that dissimilar in power and purpose to Eva...
After staring directly at Zelretch for several minutes, neither moving a muscle, the woman let her head hang again as she asked, "How certain are you..." in a dull tone. What she didn't expect was for Zelretch to instantly state, "Absolutely." without any hesitation. Then, seemingly with the intent to convince her, he added, "The man I've found is from the 'Outside'...we have already confirmed it. He even has Alaya and the Spider on his side..."
This time, Arcueid couldn't easily ignore Zelretch's words as she knew just how powerful both of the aforementioned entities were. One of the reasons she had sealed herself away was in preparation for the coming battles against such entities as, without her power, humanity didn't really stand a chance. To hear Zelretch claim that the Spider had been subjugated was a ridiculous concept and, if not for his previous claim about the man in question hailing from the Outside, Arcueid wouldn't have been able to believe either claim was true.
Now, with her eyes glowing even more than before, Arcueid raised her head to look back at Zelretch, her tone both apprehensive and excited as she exclaimed, "Take me to him...!"
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The ultimate troll tool...','RIP Vahn. Shishou is the true Master','White Princess of the Crimson Moon')
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章節 1329: Expectant
After suffering six hours of Scáthach's challenge, Vahn breathed a sigh of relief as, across from him, his demonic Shishou adorned her usual attire. At the same time, he sent a surge of his source energy outwards, shattering each of the needle-thick barbs while remarking, "If I had to guess the purpose of this challenge...you seem to be trying to curb my flirtatious habits...?"
Instead of refuting his words, Scáthach gave Vahn a side-long glance, silence persisting between them for several seconds before she answered, "It is perfectly normal for a capable man to keep multiple wives. You, however, take things too far. There is a vast disparity between the women you keep company. At this rate, there is bound to be conflict at some point. You may have uncommon proficiency in the bedroom but, given enough time, those with wavering loyalties will stray from your side."
As he had long prepared himself for that exact happening, Vahn gave an understanding nod in response to his Shishou's advice. However, while something would undoubtedly happen over the literal eternity he was expected to live, he still felt she was underestimating him. He may lack the capabilities now but, so long as he continued striving toward his ideal future, his aspirations and The Path would allow him to reach his goals. He just needed to remain focused and prevent any setbacks from adversely affecting him in any meaningful ways...
Rather than worry about his infinitely expanding harem, Vahn was more concerned about each individual relationship. This included his relationship with Scáthach and, after completing all of her challenges, he was determined to make her his. She seemed to be preparing for this as well as, while it was almost never discussed, virtually everyone in the castle had noticed her changes. Since her default personality was cold and emotionless, even small changes in her behavior were noticeable to people with the sensitivities and perception of Heroic Spirits.
Seeing the confidence in Vahn's eyes, Scáthach released a small sigh since she knew he hadn't taken her words to heart. She hadn't expected him to suddenly cut off the women in his life that had lesser value but, knowing she would eventually have to share him, it hurt her warrior's pride. If she had met Vahn during her era, anyone she didn't approve of would have been driven away as their presence ultimately threatened the status of her, her children, and Vahn himself...
Had the situation been different, Scáthach would have put more pressure on Vahn but, with his vice-like grip on the entire world, it likely didn't matter all that much. Still, she affirmed her own resolve so that, if any of the other women were to betray him, they would pay the price. While it may not matter to Vahn, Scáthach would never allow someone that once held his affections, and potentially had his children, to become the mistress of another. It was a slight to all of them, not just Vahn himself, so she would punish them appropriately.
Unaware of what his Shishou was thinking, Vahn stretched his body for a bit before saying, "I want to meet your new disciple. I trust your judgment but it will take more than a simple introduction to accept a past enemy into my home. Come, it is time I learn more about this 'Ciel' woman."
Hearing Vahn's words, Scáthach immediately teleported them both to the small Japanese-style hut that had been constructed. The Empire borrowed a lot of oriental designs in everything from its armor to the architecture of the Castle Town so it was often the go-to style when constructing new buildings. Vahn personally felt more comfortable in such traditional houses, primarily due to his time spent living together with Tsubaki, so it always brought a smile to his face when he saw the familiar tatami mats, the sound of wind chimes gently ringing in his ears...
Just as Vahn was beginning to relax, he was greeted by a somewhat unexpected sight, causing his brows to raise slightly as he looked toward Scáthach with a questioning look. She, however, completely ignored him and instead addressed the meditating woman in the middle of the room, saying, "Elesia, our Master has arrived. Greet him properly."
Ciel had actually wanted to open her eyes earlier but, as early as her first day inside the Training Orb, she had learned not to allow external stimuli to distract her. Scáthach wasn't kind to people who slacked off in their training and, in the hopes of having her wish granted, Ciel wasn't going to slack off for even a moment. Thus, until Scáthach gave her permission to stop training, she did her best to ignore the literal ocean of mana that Vahn represented in her perception...
Before Ciel could greet him properly, Vahn maintained his casual smile as he pulled out a thin cloth and guided it to wrap around her body. She had been wearing nothing but an extremely thin garment, one similar in structure to Scáthach's bodysuit. While it covered everything, the extremely thin fabric left very little to the imagination and, having been informed of Ciel's wish, Vahn felt it wasn't proper for him to see her in such a compromising state.
Having never expected Vahn to suddenly give her something to cover her body with, Ciel was at a momentary loss. When she saw Scáthach staring at her, however, she quickly recovered, bowing at a very low angle as she exclaimed, "Ciel greets His Majesty, the Sage Emperor!"
Though he didn't drop his casual smile, Vahn adopted a formal tone in response to Ciel's words, saying, "It is good to meet you as well, Ms. Ciel. I learned of your circumstances from Scáthach. As you have already made a vow, I intend to make good on her promise to you in the coming days. It is impossible to allow you to view the ritual directly but, when the time comes, you may stay in the nearby waiting area. I'm certain things will be a lot easier for our intrepid young friend if you are there to explain things for him."
As it had only been a few days since the start of her training, Ciel hadn't even thought to ask about the promise that had been made to her. She believed it would only be after she proved herself that her wish would be granted so, hearing Vahn's words, her eyes began to tremble as a layer of moisture covered them. She wanted to thank him for his grace but, every time she tried to vocalize her gratitude, the words got caught in her throat.
Seeing how Ciel was reacting, Vahn's expression softened a bit as he used his telekinesis to help her stand. Since she was tightly hugging the cloth he had given her, she looked especially frail and delicate, a testament to everything she had gone through to reach this point. This made him feel greater empathy for her and, while it was a little earlier than he intended, he decided to move up the next summoning by a few days. People like Ciel deserved a bit of happiness and, with how chaotic the world could become, each little bit of positivity could go a long way.
Deciding to make it a surprise, Vahn kept his changed plans to himself and, without requiring a response from Ciel, he just continued smiling as he said, "I have other matters to attend. Please, continue to do your best. Shishou can be a harsh mentor but, when it comes time for you to put your training to the test, you will learn the importance of her lessons."
Realizing that Vahn was about to leave, Ciel did her best to collect herself but, ultimately failing to do so, she decided to perform a kowtow instead. It was a little awkward to see a young woman lower herself in such a manner but, understanding she wanted to express something that words could not, Vahn gave a curt nod in response. Then, after making brief eye contact with Scáthach, he teleported out of the Training Orb. He had already kept the girls waiting long enough and, if he didn't show up soon, Circe would undoubtedly complain...
---
At the same time as his departure from the Training Orb, Vahn moved to a seated position atop Leviathan. He could deal with the girls without any major difficulties so, with a bit of free time on his hands, he decided to continue visiting the castle's newer residents. He still needed to check up on Lilith and, while she didn't really require much attention in her present state, he wanted to at least stop by to visit Tiamat for a short while. She had sealed herself away in a massive cacoon-like structure but, while it kept everyone else away, he could enter without any difficulties...
Before paying either of his intended targets a visit, Vahn first made a detour to the outside world, expanding his senses to the surroundings before ultimately teleporting to the Hanging Gardens. If he visited Lilith without first stopping by to spend some time with Semiramis, the latter would be in a sour mood for several days. In fact, when she first met Lilith, Semiramis had been more than a little upset as the presence of the Queen of Succubi made her feel threatened.
In order to pacify her concerns, Vahn whisked away Semiramis for a few hours, coaxing her until she had resumed her normal state. During that time, she had tried to have him promise to never sleep with Lilith but, as this was basically inevitable, Vahn talked her into a compromise. He would proactively try to set up Lilith with someone else in the near future but, regardless of how things turned out, he promised to make her his before pursuing the sensuous Succubi.
From Semiramis' perspective, this provided her a bit of leverage as it allowed her to refuse his advances, potentially driving a wedge between him and Lilith. This would ultimately prove futile, however, as Vahn wasn't really the type to be swayed by schemes and machinations. He might not force himself on Semiramis but, if she tried to get away with teasing him, the only person she had to blame for the outcome was herself. After all, her long ears and tsundere nature brought out the slightly sadistic side he had developed back in Danmachi and, while he wouldn't torment her, he would tease her into oblivion if given the chance...
Semiramis had learned this the hard way as, during one of her attempts to poison him, she mixed a very potent aphrodisiac into his meal while wearing a perfume enriched with pheromones. This ultimately had no effect on him but that didn't stop Vahn from taking advantage of the situation, surprising Semiramis as she momentarily believed her poison had taken effect. She immediately tried to toy with him only to realize that his sleeping dragon was fully functional, something the poison should have prevented.
Though he ultimately released her before taking things too far, Vahn had forced Semiramis to sit on his lap as he held her close and nibbled on her long ears. She struggled quite a bit but, even though they were in the Hanging Gardens, a place where she could spam S-Rank spells and freely teleport, she made no attempt to actually escape. Since there was no way she wasn't aware of her own capabilities, Vahn enjoyed teasing her for the better part of half an hour before she ultimately ran off to her room, slamming the door behind her...
Since then, his relationship with Semiramis had improved slightly but, from that moment onward, she pretty much refused to even visit Avalon. Instead, she made the Hanging Gardens her home and, as there had already been several attacks against the floating fortress, it now hovered in the Thermosphere, surrounded by an expansive Borealis. It was a truly breathtaking sight and, since he didn't want Semiramis to be too lonely, Vahn tried to visit when he had time...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Scáthach is cold-blooded o_o...','Shiki is going to be so confused xD','The bane of long-eared females...!')
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