EPIC: Path of Demons and Dragons-Chapter 273: Diligence

[February 2nd TST/September 25th DBT]

"Mmn...it sounds like you had a busy day yesterday..." hummed Venelana, relaxing with her head against Vahn's left shoulder, enjoying simply being close to him after her daily dose of his incomparably potent vital essence. She was half-tempted to chastise him for letting Bonney walk all over him, but she also believed that the sooner they could tie up various loose ends in One Piece, the sooner he could focus on other things.

"Assuming her father consents, will we be joining them?" asked Grayfia, mirroring Venelana to Vahn's right. "It would make various things easier..."

"I feel like that would be establishing a dangerous precedent..." muttered Vahn, pointing out, "Most of those who accompanied us when we became detached from the outside world did so to bolster their populations. If we suddenly appear with three to five-year-olds after five days, those more dedicated to that pursuit might push to use stacking time compression to accelerate the process..."

"Even if they do, it's not like we have to capitulate to them," noted Yasaka, seated on the floor in front of Vahn with her hands crossed atop his knees and her head resting atop them. The unhurried swaying of her nine golden tails had a mesmeric quality against ordinary people, particularly men, but Vahn was more captivated by her deep golden eyes and the petal-shaped eyebrows above them. Yasaka would get pouty if he focused on them too much, but he liked to rub his thumbs across them while digging his fingers into her fringe.

"Danna-sama is having improper thoughts..." teased Yasaka, the swaying of her tails intensifying as she narrowed her eyes, turned her head a little more to the side, and seductively licked her lips.

"How can I not when I'm blanketed by three of the most alluring women across all realities...?" countered Vahn, reciprocating Yasaka's seductive smile with a smoldering one of his own.

"Now, now... let's not get carried away..." chimed Venelana. Though, if she were being completely honest, she wouldn't mind even if Vahn wanted to keep her, Grayfia, and Yasaka until they gave birth. Unfortunately, while it was more than possible, it would make her beloved daughter very upset...

"So, what will Danna-sama do...?" asked Yasaka, the swishing of her tails briefly intensifying as Vahn extended his hand to caress her head, causing her to close her eyes and proactively rub against it.

"The timing isn't ideal, but I intend to meet with the Revolutionary Army's leadership and see what they would like to do..." stated Vahn, appending, "If they're prepared to endure five years of training to give themselves an advantage against the World Government, I believe they're qualified to be its new representatives. If we coordinate with them to assemble a special task force, they could liberate islands and oppose the World Government without the need for a large army or fixed supply lines..."

"That's true..." affirmed Venelana. "However, it isn't simply for combat that rebellions amass forces. It's to bind people to the ideologies behind them. If an organization were to overthrow the World Government and suddenly announce themselves in charge, countries and economies that depended on the previous administration would crumple. Then there is the matter of oversight...you should be well acquainted with the difficulties of managing a large organization with a lack of personnel by now..."

"That's why I mentioned liberating islands first," stated Vahn, contending, "If we assist the task force in liberating islands like Dressrossa and others under the rule of corrupt or despotic regimes, those chosen to rule in their stead can be brought into the loop and learn of our existence. We may not have the means to supply everything such a large population requires, but we don't need to. If we can instruct key, trustworthy individuals in the use of Teleportation Magic or supply them with Waypoint Crystals, they can create a network to move essential goods and personnel between islands without having to dare the seas..."

"A sound proposal..." affirmed Venelana, caressing Vahn's chest with her left hand as she sensually hummed, "You become more astute with each passing day..."

"It's because I have high expectations and extraordinary examples to live up to..." stated Vahn, slipping his hand behind Venelana's back and resting it on her smooth, hot, and immaculately sculpted bottom. The fact that he had a hand in shaping it filled him with more than pride...

Recognizing that Vahn's switch had been flipped, Venelana seized the initiative to kiss him. At the same time, Grayfia and Yasaka exchanged narrow-eyed glances, a palpable tension lingering between their gazes before they abruptly threw out their hands, the former's in a fist and the latter's turned sideways with her index and middle fingers extended and spread to resemble a pair of scissors...

"Tsk..." clicked Yasaka. Meanwhile, Grayfia couldn't help but adopt a faint but playful smile as she hummed, "It appears I'm next, Yasaka-dono..." in a mischievous tone.

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Before meeting with Monkey D. Dragon, leader of the Revolutionary Army and Luffy's father, Vahn arranged to have the spiky, dark-haired man tour the palace and undergo the Pavilion's orientation—ensuring he and those he had brought with him were well-apprised of their means and the scope of their operation. He didn't mind explaining things himself, but it did get a little tedious, reiterating the same information and responding to the same questions repeatedly.

As the tour took place, Vahn decided to spend quality time with the Maid Battalion. Since isolating Invirtua from the outside world, he hadn't had as much time to bond with or address their needs and concerns, so, utilizing a room with a time compression ratio of 30:1, he met, spent time with, and made love to those who were willing while Xenovia, Erza, Asia, and others helped prepare those awaiting their turns.

"Ta-dan~! The cute and marvelously magnificent Liliana Masquerade has appeared~!" exclaimed a very petite girl with sunkissed skin, bright yellow hair fixed into twin tails, and large, round, similarly yellow eyes. Unlike the majority of girls that had entered the room until then, modeling sexy Maid outfits or incredibly scant lingerie, she was modeling what appeared to be a black bikini beneath a transparent, comparably suggestive dancer outfit with harem pants, crisscrossed silk wrappings around her chest and lower body, an orange waistcloth with leafy attachments adorning her hips, and glossy orange flats.

Recognizing the diminutive woman from her pre-employment interview, Vahn, seated on a comfortable sofa in his usual black and grey yukata, raised his brows and remarked, "I remember you. You're the Songstress that Subaru-kun referred to us. I'm surprised you had time to attend this kind of event..."

"Well, how else am I supposed to convince you to support and promote me~?" asked Liliana, swaying her willowy waist and performing a series of graceful, prancing pirouettes that eventually brought her in front of Vahn with a broad smile and her hands on her hips.

"Besides..." started Liliana, lightly drumming her flat belly and making a heart shape with her index and middle fingers beneath her abdomen as she revealed, "Most of the guys I'm interested in aren't interested in me, and those who are tend to be obsessive. It's nice to know I can drop in occasionally and have fun with a super handsome guy who doesn't mind or get too excited by my appearance."

"Insinuating you didn't come here to chat..." remarked Vahn, adopting a relaxed, smoldering smile as he extended his hands invitingly. Before he created Invirtua, Liliana's petite appearance might have bothered him. But after crossing the line with other petite beauties like Tatsumaki and Rukia, who were both 144cm, Liliana's lithe 150cm frame didn't prevent him from slipping his thumbs under her silk wrappings or caressing her sides as she stepped forward into his hands.

"I actually came to ask for money and a bodyguard~" confessed Liliana, sticking her tongue out before grabbing the sides of Vahn's face, holding his gaze as she kneaded his cheeks with the padding of her thumbs and gently drummed him with the tips of her fingers, humming, "Lugunica is becoming increasingly dangerous as of late. Wouldn't it be super tragic if a cute girl like myself were to fall prey to cultists, highwaymen, or human traffickers while I was traveling between towns and cities~?"

"The world itself would mourn..." affirmed Vahn, causing Liliana's eyes to flash as she abruptly separated from him, exclaiming, "I have had a flash of inspiration~!" while producing an ornate, long-necked instrument with features reminiscent of a guitar and ukelele. Its primary color was orange with bright yellow trim, and its egg-shaped bout was egg-shell white with orange around its soundhole.

Though Lilian's sudden outburst initially took him aback, Vahn couldn't help but narrow his eyes and smile appreciatively when she closed her own, began strumming her lyulyre, and sang...

"When clouds draw near and thunder shouts,

I laugh and sing to drown them out!

My steps are light, my hearts aflame—

A whisper dancing through the rain.

I'm not a sword, I'm not a shield,

But I can mend what can't be healed.

A song, a smile, a shining thread,

To stitch the hope you thought was dead.

So walk with me, and you will find

That even night is star-aligned.

And though the world may lose its way...

I'll sing and dance till break of day~"

Finished with her impromptu song, Liliana, prompted by Vahn's clapping, performed a steep bow before raising her head, placing her lyulyre away, and rather plainly stating, "Alright, now it's time for me to make you sing. Or are you the kind of guy who likes to take the initiative? This will be my first time with a God, so you'll have to tell me what kinds of things you're into."

Though he was slightly disappointed, Vahn wasn't particularly surprised to learn Liliana had prior partners. She was a twenty-year-old Songstress from a medieval fantasy world who walked around and performed in attire comparable to nightwear. She had also set out on her own at thirteen, and while she had presumably gotten by singing, dancing, and performing, the world of Re: Zero wasn't exactly known for the kindness of its inhabitants or setting...

"For now, take a seat..." said Vahn, his expression and tone softening as he patted his right thigh. Liliana raised her right brow and tilted her head slightly, finding his behavior strange, but she didn't fret over it and instead climbed onto his lap, scooching forward and drawing her eagerly smiling face within a few centimeters of his as she asked, "What does Vahn-sama have in mind~?"

"That ultimately depends on what you're comfortable with," stated Vahn, his eyes narrowing and his gentle smile becoming more prominent as he softly hummed, "But, before we do anything else...I want to hold you for a bit. Is that okay?"

"You...want to hold me...?" asked Liliana, tilting her head even further as she found the request odd. However, since she had no reason to refuse, she quickly shrugged, answering, "Sure, why not? Just don't squeeze me too tightly. I'm delicate, and my outfit isn't the best at concealing bruises."

"That won't be an issue with me..." affirmed Vahn, first pulling Liliana's hips closer before enveloping her slender body with his arms and cradling her head. The unfamiliar contact initially caused her to feel awkward, but as the seconds dragged on and Vahn's gentle warmth suffused her body, Liliana experienced a sense of...nostalgia. She couldn't discern what was going through Vahn's head—even with her Divine Protection of Telepathy. But, even without it, she could tell he was trying to reassure and comfort her...

"Is this how you get other women to fall in love with you...?" questioned Liliana, her voice quiet but melodious as she closed her eyes, settled into Vahn's embrace, and reciprocated by placing her hands on his sides.

"I will never rein or fetter you..." muttered Vahn, planting a kiss on the top of Liliana's head before holding her close and appending, "But, so long as you remain a member of the Maid Battalion, I will care for and cherish you as you deserve..."

"My...how dependable..." hummed Liliana. Several additional flashes of inspiration washed over her, but since she didn't feel like separating from Vahn's embrace, she recited them in her head while mischievously nosing the gap in his yukata to remind him she wasn't there to be cradled. There were also many others awaiting their turn, so as much as she appreciated Vahn's tender affections, what she sought was his passion...

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