LIGHTNOVELWORLD Chapter 134: Conviction
"Well, now. It's only been a short while, but you appear to have gained quite a bit of confidence while you were away..." remarked Azazel, sitting casually with the knuckles of his right hand propping his cheek and head.
"One of the many benefits of a renewed perspective..." responded Vahn, sporting a relaxed smile as he looked around the table, appending, "I see some new faces. And I can't help but notice that three of them are among the most breathtakingly beautiful women I have ever seen. Of course, our resident Leviathan doesn't lose to any of them..."
Seeing Vahn send a playful wink her way, Serafall couldn't help covering her mouth to stifle a giggle before remarking, "I quite like this version of you~" in a sensual, sing-song tone.
"Indeed," hummed the voluptuous Yasaka, narrowing her naturally narrow, vulpine eyes as she huskily stated, "But let us save the pleasantries and becoming better acquainted for another time. If I'm away from my shrine for too long, some naughty children could try something, or the leyline of Kyoto could become unstable. I'm Yasaka, by the way. Though many refer to me as the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox of the West."
"And I, young man, am Odin, Chief Deity of the Norse and Allfather of the Aesir..." chimed Odin, caressing his beard with his right hand and grinning wolfishly as he silently approved of Vahn's remark regarding the quality of the women present.
As he didn't feel like waiting for everyone to introduce themselves, Vahn plainly stated, "I am aware of everyone's identities, and it's a pleasure to make your acquaintances. However, as Yasaka-san isn't the only one with someplace else to be, let's keep this meeting brief."
"Yasaka-san...?" repeated Yasaka, somewhat taken aback by Vahn's lack of formality but not taking it to heart as she knew his status would greatly exceed hers in the future, presuming it hadn't already.
"Then I will speak plainly and succinctly," said Sirzechs, sporting his usual relaxed smile as he revealed, "We've all had the opportunity to review the documents compiled and provided by Lady Venelana and generally agree with your decision to stay neutral. However, due to your close association with various high-ranking and Pure-blooded Devils, there is a concern you will be biased in your future dealings."
"It's only natural that I show favor to those I'm close to or care about," responded Vahn, shaking his head. "But that bias, as you call it, doesn't extend to Devilkind as a whole. It's unreasonable to favor or resent an entire group of people because of your affection or hatred toward a few. My only genuine bias is against those who go out of their way to cause trouble or threaten the peace, stability, and livelihoods of others in their personal pursuit of pleasure, fulfillment, or power."
Slowly passing his gaze over everyone seated at the table, Vahn calmly asserted, "I will work with anyone willing to collaborate with me toward the common goal of improving the lives and guaranteeing the freedom of others. I only appear to prefer Devils because I haven't had the chance to interact with many Angels, Devils, or Yokai."
"In other words, it's not that you've been favoring Devils. They're simply the most active in approaching and forming deals with you..." concluded Azazel, passing his gaze over the four Satans present.
"None of that matters on a scale transcending this world," asserted Vahn, drawing everyone's gazes as he explained, "There are functionally infinite worlds, and I'm not only referring to those that exist within or beyond the Corridor. Your respective positions require you to fret over various things, but the simple fact of the matter is that I could care less about things like politics and power struggles. I will do what I can to support all sides that are willing to cooperate while shunning those who actively seek to cause problems. It's up to those here and those who join your coalition in the future to determine how to utilize the power and resources I enable you to acquire. Actually acquiring them will depend on your efforts. Simple as that."
Largely finished with what he had to say, Vahn surprised nearly everyone at the table by standing up, a friendly smile adorning his face as he calmly and confidently maintained, "In other words, my presence isn't necessary for meetings like this. Unless I disagree with the decision, I will generally support whatever you decide as a group. If you want to form a deeper or more personal connection with me, schedule a meeting with my Secretary or seek me out within the Corridor. My doors are open to everyone they're not closed to."
Nearing the end of his speech, Vahn purposely met the gazes of Serafall, Gabriel, the white-haired woman behind Odin, and Yasaka. He wasn't sure if it was her fox-like ears or nine extraordinarily fluffy tails, but something about the mature and voluptuous woman piqued his interest. Thus, before turning to depart without seeking permission, his smile became marginally more prominent as he punctuated his words with a wink, causing Yasaka's somewhat small but elegant brows to rise before she covered her amused smile with her sleeve and observed his departure with narrow, calculating eyes. The territory Vahn had been bequeathed was along the periphery of her domain, so even if he hadn't winked at her, she would have paid him a personal visit. Now, depending on how cooperative he was, they might be able to become much more than simple friends or acquaintances...
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With an entire train car and suite to themselves, Vahn was enjoying the sight of Venelana unhurriedly and skillfully rolling, swaying, and circling her hips atop him as they discussed how he wanted to set up his territory. Grayfia was spending time with Millicas to prepare him for becoming an Ascendee, so it would be just the two of them until he finished setting up the doors and gateways that would allow outsiders to access the hub he created to accommodate them.
"If it is meant to be a place for people to congregate and relax, we can make it a mixed resort that incorporates themes and architecture from both the East and West..." contended Venelana, her face flushed as she struggled to maintain her composure. Vahn's Petting and Bedroom Arts were both at A-Rank, so pleasure radiated from her core just having him inside her while his caress sent stimulating tingles across the surface of her body.
"I expect a semi-permanent population to form fairly quickly, so it might be better to outline districts for groups from the North, East, South, and West to grow and develop independently..." reasoned Vahn. "My personal abode should definitely have a bathhouse, though...I want a place where all my women can meet and socialize comfortably..."
"Nn...and what about your male guests...?" asked Venelana, wincing and issuing a pleasured moan as Vahn guided her flush against him, holding her in place as his penis throbbed powerfully inside of her. He could also get it to vibrate but saved that for special occasions.
"I don't really want guests..." responded Vahn. "That implies I'll need to care for or entertain them, and I have better uses for my time. The only people who will reside in my home are my women and children. Everyone else can stay in a guest house or a manse prepared elsewhere..."
"Ah, so you wish to form an actual harem..." noted Venelana, referring to how those in the West created secure palaces or abodes where only their wives, concubines, female servants, and children were permitted access. Such communities tended to be rife with interpersonal conflicts and fierce competition, but as she had nearly a millennia of experience managing a harem comprised of tens of thousands of women, Venelana was confident she could manage Vahn's. He wasn't nearly as greedy or careless as her ostensibly ex-husband, so while she was sure that his harem would grow, she couldn't imagine it exceeding more than a few dozen at any one point. He undoubtedly allowed his desires to influence him, but as he tended to get invested in the lives of those he chose to sleep with, there was a soft limit to the number of women he could be involved with without hindering his ability to form or maintain meaningful connections...
"And I'll be depending on your considerable experience and expertise to make it possible..." asserted Vahn, causing a throaty moan to emanate from Venelana's throat as he unleashed enough semen into her womb to make it balloon from the inside.
"Mmmnnnngh—I understand~" responded Venelana, feeling a sense of glee she hadn't experienced for centuries before Vahn decided to claim her as his own. She felt sorry for her daughter and the other young girls he was involved with, but if he continued filling her with intense pleasure at every chance he got, she was going to start ensuring he had as many opportunities as possible...
"Good girl..." hummed Vahn, narrowing his eyes possessively as he guided Venelana to grind against him, deliberately training her womb so that she would feel even greater pleasure in the future. She had already agreed to become his, but until he was confident she only had eyes for him, he was going to keep subjecting her to even greater pleasure and satisfaction. By the time he was done, the very notion of having sex with other men would disgust and offend her, just as he had done with Grayfia...
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[August 12th]
Though only a day had passed in the outside world, Vahn found himself standing cross-armed on the highest balcony of a nine-tiered Japanese-style palace in nothing but a loose, dark grey yukata, enjoying the breeze and the scenery he had created with input from Venelana. The vista that stretched out before him drew inspiration from the lush mountains, rivers, and valleys commonly referenced in Wuxia, so there were waterfalls that flowed from cliff faces, deep chasms perpetually filled with mist, and tall, thin mountains that protruded from a vast, shallow lake that was, in fact, a city-sized hot spring.
"Come back to bed..." purred Venelana, approaching Vahn from behind, wrapping her arms around him to caress his abs, and kissing his neck in nothing but a thin, highly transparent white negligee. Vahn had his time compression working at maximum capacity to ensure they had plenty of time to prepare everything, so even though only seventeen hours and six minutes had passed outside, they were on day 1,789 of their marriage-like cohabitation.
"It's almost time for us to return," stated Vahn, his expression calm but his tone decisive as he relaxedly removed Venelana's hands from his stomach and turned to face her, leading to a lengthy kiss and nearly five minutes of fondling her notably toned bottom. She spent hours each day training and performing special exercises to ensure the shape and plasticity of her ass and thighs, so Vahn could fondle or rub his cheeks against them for hours if the mood suited him.
Separating from Venelana's lips, Vahn waited for her to drop to her knees naturally, her head bobbing enthusiastically as he caressed it with his left hand with his eyes closed and head tilted back slightly, adding, "I will be counting on you to erect my shrine and transport the prepared gates and keys to their intended destinations and owners. I have total confidence in your abilities..."
Instead of responding to Vahn with words, Venelana drew her lips nearly flush against him, her violet eyes shimmering as she turned her eyes up at him and fingered herself aggressively. The previous night, she had vowed to serve Vahn for the rest of her life. Had she known it would spell the end of their time alone, she might have waited another ten to twenty years, at the very least. However, after hearing him express his total confidence in her abilities, she was eager to meet his expectations...
Looking down and finding Venelana staring up at him, a smoldering grin developed across Vahn's face. Fortunately for her, he wasn't in a hurry to conclude their cohabitation. He had just brought it up so they could begin making preparations. There was no way he could part with her when she looked so seductive and adorable with her lips wrapped around his cock, so for thirty of the thirty-six days they had until their fifth anniversary, he loved her as exhaustively as he had their first six months together...
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