章節 1602: Lurking
As he kept a version of himself back at the Custos Rosea, it didn't take long for Medusa to inform Vahn of what had transpired. At the same time, back at the banquet that had been prepared to entertain them, his genial smiled turned into a disappointed frown as he shook his head and said, "It seems the public order in Zephyria is even worse than expected..."
Though there were a number of other people present, the Admiral, Katarina, was the first to react to Vahn's words. Her expression instantly became more fierce as she passed her gaze around the room before asking, "Did the Sage Dragon Emperor notice something amiss? We will send someone to address the matter promptly."
Shaking his head a second time, Vahn explained, "A group of seventeen people managed to approach our vessel and board it without any port officials interceding. Is the security of the Association so lax that they are incapable of noticing nearly twenty approaching the craft of foreign dignitary within their own private docks?"
Hearing Vahn's words, Katarina's expression turned progressively dour. Then, following the explanation, she looked towards an exceptionally tall man with a unique handlebar mustache that flowed into his sideburns, saying, "Beckham, see that Her Highness' craft is well guarded for the remainder of her stay. Have someone investigate the on-duty officials to find out which of the mangy curs allowed something like this to happen. If they are unwilling to talk, have the coin melted down and swallowed by the bastards."
Despite the ruthlessness of the command, the man named Beckham didn't seem particularly concerned by his Admiral's order. Instead, his expression turned solemn and determined as he said, "Aye. I'll see to it. If I can't get to tha bottom of this, I'll put myself forward to be drawn an' quartered."
Without delaying further, the man named Beckham briefly gazed toward the two people who had accompanied him to the banquet. Then, together, they quickly alighted from the room as Katarina turned to the rest of the assembly and said, "If it turns out any of you were involved in this, I'll personally see to it that your properties burn. That'll be a mercy compared to what the Sage Dragon Emperor would do to you. Now, get out of here. The ale and wine have bittered from this news."
Though several people looked like they had something to say, Katarina hadn't been elevated to the position of Admiral by virtue of her birth. She had worked her way up through the ranks by completing countless difficult quests and earning the respect of Brave Enlil himself. Prior to her appointment, she had also made a name for herself by ruthlessly crushing the top five Sky Pirate crews over the course of a single year. Her reputation had been forged from hard effort and bloody conquest, so, rather than doubt her words, most competed to be the first to alight from the room...
Of the original twenty-six guests, only four chose to dawdle after the Admiral's warning. These were some of the most affluent people in all of Zephyria, and, though they were well-aware of the promise contained within the Admiral's words, they were undaunted. After all, despite the status she held, it wasn't as if Katarina was the 'ruler' of Zephyria. Her position might be one of the highest in the entire country, but, unless she had the support of the Council of Seven, her authority was limited to the Skyfarers Association.
Seeing the four choose to 'ignore' her words, Katarina's expression became especially vicious as she asked, "Have you forgotten where you are right now? There is a fine line between pride and arrogance...need I show you where it lies?"
Of the four who chose to remain, the first to speak was a man with a broad chest and arms as thicker than most people's thighs crossed his arms as he said, "It is you who forgets yourself, Admiral. We represent a majority in the Council of Seven. Are you trying to force us away so that you might pander to a foreign power in secrecy?"
Hearing the man's words, Katarina's expression became venomous but it was Arika who said, "You should leave. Ostia has no interest in establishing trade relations with Zephyria so your worries are unfounded. The only thing you accomplish by behaving in this manner is earning my disapproval. I have no interest in your pursuit of profiteering."
Not expecting Arika to speak out, the burly man was slightly taken aback by her words. The same could be said for his other companions, the only exception being the woman among the group. She had a rather lascivious look, and, due to her unique choice of garb, she had the appearance of a 'very' successful gypsy woman.
Breaking the tense silence with her sonorous laughter, the woman passed her gaze over Arika as if she was appraising a rare treasure before saying, "It be seeming to me dat de Ostians be knowin' better den to cultivate their flowers without thorns. I'd rather be avoidin' a prick so let me be away. Only fools be makin' a fuss in de presence of a dragon."
With her words finished, the gypsy-like woman passed her appraising gaze over Fenrir before briefly lingering on Vahn. Then, without another word, she alighted from the room, her waist snaking in a hypnotic pattern that drew the eyes of her three companions until she ultimately departed.
After having fallen silent for several seconds due to the woman's departure, the atmosphere in the room had become slightly awkward. Even the burly man from before seemed to have lost his momentum, his brows furrowed slightly as he looked around the room before settling on the Admiral and saying, "This matter involves the entire Council. If it is discovered that you are prioritizing your benefits over Zephyria, I will be the first to censure you. Don't be playing games, Katarina."
Hearing the man's words, it was Katarina's turn to cross her arms, her expression cold enough to chill ice as she said, "Piss off, Kurtis. The next time you pull something like this, don't blame me for putting you in your place. You must've had a bit too much to drink if you think you can get away with insultin' me on my own turf. Were it not for the presence of the Princess and the Sage Dragon Emperor, you'd be lucky to avoid spendin' the next three weeks in a wheelchair. Now, get the fuck out of my home."
With an incensed expression on his face, Kurtis glared back at Katarina, but, before he could say anything, Vahn chimed in, his casual smile fading as he said, "Leave. Now."
The moment Vahn spoke, an oppressive aura descended upon the room in an instant. This left the trio without words, and, after looking directly at Vahn's glowing golden eyes, any bravado they had been able to muster rapidly evaporated like a tidal pool on a hot day. They were well aware of his reputation, so, after an oppressive silence, even Kurtis, the wealthiest Merchant in all of Zephyria, decided to retreat without another word...
---
Having finished their meal, Vahn, accompanied by Eva and Asuna, had been leisurely making their way back to the Skyfarers Association. The city seemed to become more alive as the sun went down, but, unlike when Asuna had been wandering around previously, none tried to bar their passage. Though some bolder individuals tried to call out to Eva, it only took an icy cold glare to immediately deter them. As for the women eyeing up Vahn, the presence of Eva and Asuna was more than enough to prevent them from approaching. It was almost impossible to compare themselves to Eva's beauty, and, though she wouldn't hesitate to correct them, the vast majority of people assumed Asuna was the child of the inordinately attractive duo...
Seeing Eva cause a trio of drunkards to fall onto their butts with a single glance, Vahn couldn't help but issue a light chuckle. This earned him a not-so-gentle elbow from Eva, who, after the first few dozen people called out to her, quickly grew tired of it.
Since Eva had infused Ki into her blow, Vahn's laughter was cut off by the air being forced out of his lungs. A sharp pain radiated from his ribs, and, though it healed almost instantly, it was always a little surprising to experience the potency of Eva's attacks. His durability was a match for magically reinforced metals, but, due to the nature of Ki, Eva managed to fracture four of his ribs with relative ease.
Rather than make a big deal out of it, Vahn just smiled wryly before wrapping his hand around Eva's waist and pulling her a little closer to him. He hadn't missed the guilt that briefly flashed across her eyes after she elbowed him, so, before she could fall into a dour mood, he took the initiative to hold her closer. She wasn't fond of public displays of affection, so, by drawing her closer to him, Vahn was freeing her from the obligation of having to apologize.
Understanding Vahn's intentions, the tips of Eva's ears became red. The confidence she had been showing moments prior quickly faded away, but, in spite of this, fewer people dared to call out to her. Instead, a considerable number of people began collapsing on the spot, their consciousness robbed by the convergence of Vahn's aura. This caused quite a scene, but, as it had 'nothing' to do with them, Vahn continued to lead Eva and Asuna unobstructed...
---
Resisting the urge to pass out, a man with pale-green, almost white, hair leaned against a wall for support. His expression showed a mixture of disbelief and terror as he used his right hand to try and stymy the flow of blood from his nose. Around him, a number of other individuals had already collapsed, many bleeding from their seven orifices due to the wave of pressure that had spontaneously descended upon them.
Using what remained of his willpower, the man pulled out a handful of pills before voraciously shoving them down his mouth. Anyone aware of the true nature of the pills would have been mortified to see such a scene, as, despite their exterior structure, each contained an artificial, intermediate-level, Spirit. They were traditionally single-use items that could be used to save a person's life in a dangerous situation, but, as if he was a monster given human flesh, the man unhesitantly devoured the contained, horrified, spirits.
Feeling power surge through his body, a greenish-blue aura surrounded the man's body as the sound of crackling lightning surged through the room. His uncharacteristically spiky hair became even more prominent, and, after a few seconds had passed, lightning began to coil across his body. Immediately thereafter, his figure vanished from view, followed by the sound of a tumultuous thunderclap. The temperature within the room increased to several thousand degrees in an instant, but, without caring about the pawns he had left behind, the man hastily alighted from Zephyria at the speed of lightning...
After covering thousands of kilometers in an instant, the man crashed into the ground with meteoric force. When he emerged from the long trench his crash had formed, his body was in an even more ragged state than before, the lower half of his face and much of his upper body covered in blood. Despite this, he refused to fall, his expression vicious and unrelenting as he pulled out a magical flare and muttered, "That monster can't be allowed to wander freely. All of our efforts will be for naught if we continue ignoring him..."
With a fiery determination welling inside his heart, the man aimed the flare towards the sky, a fierce glimmer in his eyes as he used the last vestiges of his strength to pull the cord. Almost immediately thereafter, a pale-green orb of light ascended into the sky, but, unlike a normal flare, it didn't explode or linger at its apex. Instead, it vanished into the void, and, if not for the trail that was left behind, all signs of its existence would have faded away shortly thereafter.
Having successfully set off the flare, the man allowed his tired body to lay against the side of the crater. Darkness began to encroach on the edges of his vision as the cautionary words of his Master played through his mind. She had warned him against approaching within fifteen kilometers of their target, but, unwilling to cower in fear, he unhesitantly entered within the danger zone. He was confident that he would be able to evade Vahn's detection, and, when the latter showed even a moment of complacency, he intended to recover the Key of Twilight and receive his Master's praise...
Though he wasn't sure what had caused Vahn to suddenly 'attack' them, the man was certain their intentions hadn't been seen through. Instead, it seemed like an indiscriminate attack that targetted anyone with malicious intent within a certain radius. The most terrifying thing about this ability, other than the fact it happened 'instantly', was that it seemed to completely ignore all magical barriers and protective charms...
Moments before his consciousness faded into darkness, the man noticed the length of his shadow extend before condensing into an inky black substance. From within, a figure with dark skin, darker hair, and glimmering golden eyes appeared. His body was attired in flowing robes that seemed to be formed from the shadows themselves, the hem orbiting his figure as if he was the eye of a storm.
Staring down at the man with pale-green hair, a contemptuous look flashed across the dark-skinned man's face, his voice deep and resonating as he said, "Secundum...I always knew it would be your hubris that led to your end..."
Though the light had already faded from his eyes, the man named Secundum had yet to lose consciousness. His loyalty and sense of purpose were the strongest amongst his brothers and sisters, so, until he had passed on his message, he would not allow himself to rest.
Forcing back his hatred and resentment, Secundum grit his teeth hard enough to draw blood before stating, "Listen closely...you defective piece of trash...we cannot allow that monster to hold onto the Key of Twilight...everything we're working toward...will be undone...if we don't do anything..."
With the same contemptuous expression on his face, the dark-skinned man, Dynamis, just shook his head before saying, "Master told you to stay away and observe. I will report your failure alongside your final words..."
Hearing the man's words, Secundum's expression turned even more vicious, a small amount of light returning to his eyes. Before he could say or do anything, however, a sickening feeling spread through his body. He could feel the life draining away from him as a series of shadowy spikes penetrated his body and began to coil around him. Then, as if the ground had become quicksand, he began to sink into his own shadow, an almost inaudible, "Dynamis..." escaping his lips before he was completely subsumed.
(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Leave. Now.','Doki-Doki Eva-chan','Vahn's domain is actually very terrifying (o w o)...')
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章節 1603: Duty
Though Vahn might not pay as much attention as he should to the things happening within his domain, that didn't reduce its efficacy in the slightest. He often spent the evening hours, when he was supposed to be sleeping, perusing through the information he had accumulated throughout the day. This was how he typically uncovered incidents and investigated persons of interest, as, so long as they were within his domain, he could track all of their activities up until the moment they exited his range.
When Vahn didn't have time to sort through his own memories, as controlling anywhere between three and five bodies required a fair amount of focus, Sis was always there to serve as a backup. She was infinitely better at processing information, and, though her capabilities rapidly diminished when Vahn's mind was in disorder, she had always been his greatest ally. Her only real weakness was that, when Vahn was wholeheartedly focused on a specific task, such as forging, her focus would equally as occupied by the same subject.
Fortunately, with Vahn meandering about and being 'lazy', Sis had plenty of time to focus on other things, so, while she hadn't noticed it immediately, it didn't take her long to create a perfect three-dimensional representation of the location Secundum had been hiding in. This was the same ability that Vahn used when he 'navigated' his own memories, but, unlike how he simply moved around his intent, Sis actually used a faux body.
Though she would willingly change to reflect any form Vahn had decided for her, Sis kept it a secret that she 'already' had a body. She would never allow him to try and separate them, as there was no form of intimacy closer than what they currently shared, but, knowing he would eventually want to meet her, she had conceived the closest thing to an ideal big sister that existed within Vahn's mind. This image had changed with the passage of time, but, while her figure had been modified quite a bit, there were a few things that had persisted since Vahn's time in Danmachi.
As she was his 'big sister', Sis had healthy brown skin that was similar to Vahn's. Due to the early influence of people like Milan, Tina, and Choe, however, her default appearance was that of a Cat Person. She had short hair that was like a fusion between Vahn's and Chloe's, but, unlike the vast majority of Cat People, her figure was anything but lithe. She was very petite, only standing around 158cm tall, but, similar to Arnya, she had an uncharacteristically voluptuous body. Her breast could easily contend against the bustier women in Vahn's entourage while her tail, despite appearing like a traditional Cat Person's, was inordinately thick and fluffy.
Vahn might not be aware of his own preferences, as he willfully blocked them, but Sis was able to peel back the veil to peruse his deepest and darkest thoughts. He might not have a 'preference' for women with large busts, but, when he thought of 'comfort', resting in the bosom of a busty woman was the fastest way to calm him down. He had never stopped longing for his mother, so, whenever he experienced difficulties, he instinctually sought the comfort of the more motherly women in his expansive harem.
Though he wasn't aware of it, Sis had helped to cultivate this 'dependency' within Vahn's mind, as, when he 'lost himself', she would piece him back together and hold him closely in order to bring him back. She was the reason he often felt surrounded by warmth when he was at his lowest point, and, even if everything else turned against him, she would remain to comfort his broken heart.
Wearing an outfit similar to a simple villager girl, Sis moved through Vahn's mindscape with a smile not all that dissimilar to Chloe's. The playful Cat Person had made one of the deepest impressions on Vahn's heart, and, while others might take up larger places in his heart, they were built atop the foundation that Chloe had laid. If not for her efforts, he would have walked a very different path, so, no matter how much time passed, Vahn would fondly recall that sunset, the moment when he first decided, wholeheartedly, to pursue something...
---
As if the world around her was a remarkably detailed hologram, Sis was able to freely travel through objects to reach her destination. She could also speed up, pause, or reverse the flow of time within Vahn's memories, so, after reaching the location of Secundum's hideout, located in one of the large supports holding up the world-famous 'Golden Palace' of Zephyria, a massive casino, she reversed time up until the point Vahn's domain no longer overlapped with the area.
Though she would allow Vahn to discover things on his own, Sis was the primary contributor to all of his 'hunches'. They shared the same mind and memories, so, to make things easier for him, she had developed a habit of learning new things and sorting through information on his behalf. This allowed her to provide the answer when he asked, but, more importantly, it allowed him to quickly connect the dots between certain events since she had already done so on his behalf. To him, it was like 'remembering' something he already knew, and, considering she 'was' a part of him, Sis happily allowed him to take credit for her efforts.
After realizing the man was part of the enemy forces, Sis's yellow-green eyes began to glow with a bit of intensity. She was capable of using all the same Innates as Vahn, so, for the better part of five hundred hours, she dutifully analyzed the structure of Secundum and his cohorts. She internalized everything he had said, all the orders he had issued, and, since it was often important for Vahn to know such things, she referenced all of Vahn's knowledge on psychology to evaluate his character.
Vahn would generally act decisively when it was required, but, after the fact, he couldn't help but wonder what had made people into the monsters they became. His empathy was one of his most powerful traits, and, though many didn't deserve it, he would often seek to vindicate them within his mind. There were even times when he would pray for and mourn the lives he had claimed, as, despite his ruthlessness against enemies, Vahn felt considerable guilt whenever he harmed others.
By putting in the effort to understand his enemies for him, Sis could make things a lot easier for Vahn. The moment he began having doubts, he would default to the knowledge she had obtained on his behalf. This would drastically decrease the amount of time he spent brooding, and, as they were opinions derived from his own knowledge and thought processes, Sis had already confirmed that Vahn would reach the same conclusions if left to his own devices. She simply made the process more efficient, allowing Vahn to quickly recover so that he could focus on the things he cared about more than anything else: his family, friends, and loved ones...
Confident she hadn't missed anything, Sis casually waved her hand, erasing the three-dimensional representation of Vahn's memory. Once it had completely faded, the only thing left was a tiny green fragment. This was actually a piece of Vahn's ego, so, as if it was one of the most precious items in all of existence, Sis cupped it between her hands, hugging it close to her chest as her surroundings changed to reflect an ancient storehouse.
As the Mediator between Vahn and The Path, Sis was privy to a bit of information that the former simply wasn't able to comprehend at his current level. She was even aware of the nascent structure of his unawakened Innates, and, when he was ready, she would work hard to help him comprehend them.
Amidst the rows of countless bookshelves, scroll racks, and woven storage containers, Sis bypassed countless versions of herself. Rather than clones, however, they were her at different points in what Vahn perceived to be Time. They existed to serve as a 'bookmark' of sorts so that Vahn never forgot anything, and, though she was able to perceive them, none of her past selves were able to perceive and interact with her. They were all trapped in static loops, and, even if she walked through one of them, they would just phase out of existence for a brief moment before 'refreshing' the loop anew.
Though she didn't regret it, Vahn's desire for her to develop an Ego had placed quite a number of restrictions on her capabilities. Without the static versions of herself, there was a chance even she might forget something. Fortunately, so long as the fragments were safely archived, she would be able to reacquire the information in a 'relatively' short period of time. The flow of Time within the archives flowed at a rate of 1000:1 based on Vahn's perception, so, for every second that passed for him, she would experience approximately sixteen minutes and forty seconds...
After approaching the centermost region of the archives, the location of a massive spherical mass that displayed Vahn's current field of perception, Sis gingerly placed the tiny fragment of ego back in its original location. Then, alongside ninety-nine other versions of herself, she sat around the spherical display, her expression instantly changing to match her other-selves. Though they would sometimes have wry smiles on their faces whenever Vahn did something silly, their default expression was one of profound intrigue and love. Even if he was performing the most mundane of actions, there had never been a single instance where they grew tired of watching over their adorable little brother's growth...
---
After a long discussion with Katarina regarding the existence of corruption within Zephyria, Vahn retired to two different rooms to rest for the evening. In one room, he shared a bed with Fenrir, Eva, and Asuna, while, back at the Custos Rosea, he enjoyed snuggling up with the mother-daughter trio of Medusa, Stheno, and Euryale. As for Arika, she ended up cuddling up with the chibi tiger form of Xiao Bai, as, unlike Ariadne, the security within Zephyria was simply terrible.
Though the odds of her being targetted were slim, the chances that someone might discover Vahn and Arika sharing the same bed were very high. This could be circumvented by using the Diorama, but, as it took a considerable amount of time to set up, Arika agreed to sleep alone for the evening. Fortunately, she had Xiao Bai and a number of Elementals to keep her company, and, while this was enough to draw a fair amount of attention, it wasn't really 'abnormal' considering Arika's status...
Vahn had actually been tempted to transform into a 'Vanargandr Puppy' form to accompany Arika, but, fearing it would establish a dangerous precedent, he decided against it. He knew how adorable he was in such a form, and, though he could always refuse, he could easily imagine Asuna, Eva, and even Fenrir convincing him to let them carry him around. He wasn't yet ready to be delegated to a mascot character that was carried around by others, so, at least for the time being, he decided to let Arika grow accustomed to the fact there would be nights where they simply didn't sleep together...
Though he wanted to reach a point where he could attend to every member of his harem, that was still a distant dream. Until then, the girls around him had to come to terms with the fact he wouldn't always be around them. This was easy for most, but, as they had spent such a long period of time together, Arika and Theo had actually been spoiled quite a bit. If they did ultimately follow him into other Records, they needed to be ready to integrate into his larger harem, so, while there would be plenty of time for them to be intimate with each other, they had to understand they couldn't always be intimate...
After sorting through his thoughts and slowly easing his own guilt, Vahn began to finally relax his mind. Everyone except for Fenrir had already fallen asleep, but, as she only ever slept when it was 'absolutely' safe, this wasn't a surprise. He also couldn't sleep properly when there were potential enemies about, so, while diffusing calming energy into his domain, Vahn conducted his usual ritual of sorting the day's memories. He spent most of his time focusing on the things happening around him than paying attention to distant matters, so, whenever the opportunity presented itself, he did his best to 'rewind' his memories to see if there was anything he had overlooked.
As this thought crossed his mind, Vahn recalled the fluctuation he had sensed during his evening stroll with Eva. Immediately thereafter, as if he was moving through time and space itself, he found himself within a confined location beneath the nearby Golden Palace. Though there were no signs of enemy activity in the present, as everything had been melted and burned away, he was able to rewind the clock to a point prior to the destruction.
Seeing the man with pale-green hair, Vahn couldn't help but internally frown. He could tell what kind of existence the man was at a single glance, and, though he had never seen such pills being used, he could sense the presence of Elemental Spirits within. This made him feel a little incensed, but, considering the man was also an Artificial Spirit, there was nothing intrinsically wrong with him subsuming other artificial spirits. Only the method was questionable, but, considering the end result was the same, he decided not to let it bother him too much.
After suppressing his anger, as there was very little he could do about events that had already come to pass, Vahn began analyzing the scene in greater detail. It didn't take much effort for him to make sense of what had happened, and, though he felt guilty about the lives that had been lost when the man fled, Vahn imagined himself smiling wryly in response to the stupefaction visible on their faces. Even he hadn't intended to expose a member of Cosmo Entelecheia during an evening stroll, so, to see such an event play out, Vahn couldn't help but feel a mixture of incredulity and amusement.
Even after searching Ostia and Ariadne in painstaking detail, it had been impossible to find the trail of Cosmo Entelecheia. This had always troubled him quite a bit, and, though he had never vocalized it, Vahn had started to worry that Cosmo Entelecheia simply didn't exist in the current timeline. The chances of this being true were exceptionally slim, but, as there was no way to accurately determine how his presence had impacted the original timeline, Vahn could only continue moving forward.
Now that he had confirmed both the existence of Cosmo Entelecheia and the fact they were already aware of him, Vahn felt as though a substantial weight had been removed from his shoulders. It was always easier to take action when you had a basic grasp of the enemy's intentions, so, now that he knew they were trying to recover Asuna, he had a considerable amount of leverage against them. If he played it smart, he could even predict their future actions and entrap them, so, until the evening had passed, Vahn spent several tens of hours scouring over the scene for additional information...
(A/N: Alternate Titles: '(O o O)...!','Vahn still craves his mother's warmth (T ^ T)...','Vahn be like, "Look at how easily I can understand things! I am a master detective (O,...,O)~!"')
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