Following their foray in the forest, Vahn and Lupusregina were on their way to E-Rantel following a poorly kept path. They could have used Gate to teleport much closer to the city, but Vahn enjoyed traveling and taking in the sights of low-population, nature-dense worlds.
"At this rate, it won't be long before I'm pregnant~" hummed Lupusregina, sporting a highly gratified smile as she caressed her lower abdomen with her right hand.
"It's possible, but the odds are slim," responded Vahn. "I have a way to guarantee it, but when I came to this world, I resolved not to expand my already expansive harem too greatly or have kids."
"You have a harem?" questioned Lupusregina, raising her brows more out of curiosity than surprise.
"Indeed," responded Vahn. "And if I include those along the periphery of my harem, their numbers are in the five digits."
"That explains a lot..." Lupusregina conceded, glancing down at her body. When she had originally propositioned Vahn, she believed he would be at her mercy. Instead, she found herself consciously relinquishing control as he introduced her to pleasures and comforts beyond what she previously thought possible.
"But I want to keep things within reason this time around..." stated Vahn, glancing back at Lupusregina over his shoulder and smiling as he teased, "In fact, if your body and mind can endure, I wouldn't mind keeping things just between us..."
"As if I would share you so easily~" Lupusregina retorted, pouncing on Vahn's back, her arms wrapped around him as she bit and pulled on his right cheek. His knees nearly buckled due to the weight of her axe and his weakened physique, but with his godly processing and reaction speed, he managed to brace and center himself at the last moment.
"I'll hold you to that," hummed Vahn, adopting a faint smile as he slid his hands backward along Lupusregina's exposed thighs. In response, she jumped onto his back, quickly understanding that he intended to give her a piggyback ride. Persistent physical exertion was a slow but simple way to gain Exp toward leveling up, and with Ainz and the Floor Guardians all being at the apparent Level cap of 100, he had a fair amount of catching up to do...
--------------------------------------------
Name: [Vahn Mason]
Title(s): The 42nd Supreme Being, [68 Titles Sealed]
Class: Chaplain(10), Pilgrim(2)
Race: Human, (????)
Age: 89 Height: 191cm Weight: 102.8kg B/W/H: 96/75/94
Origin: Termina
Current World: OL-2138
[World Parameters]
Level: 8->12
HP: 25->30
MP: 30->50
P. Atk: 7->10
P. Def: 7->10
Agility: 7->10
M. Atk: 7->10
M. Def: 7->10
Resistance: 100
Special Ability: 8->12
Skill Points: 0
Total: 198->242
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Soul Tier: 2 (Hero Soul)
Karma: 78, 551,423,850->78, 551,431,448
OP: 141,300,481->140,298,801
[Connatal Skills]
[Will of the Emperor: Innate(SSS)], [Stalwart Adonis: Innate(B)],[Chainbreaker(S)], [Veil of the Traveler(S)], [Pain Tolerance(S)], [Wound Transfer(A)], [238 Skills Sealed]
[Racial Skills]
N/A
[Class Skills]
[Aspergillum(F)], [Binatio(F)], [Sacellum(E)], [Last Rites(E)], [Walking Church(D)], [Sanctify(D)], [Aspersion(F)], [Sanctuary(C)], [Crucifixia(C)], [Judgment(B)], [Land Survey(F)], [Blessing of the Traveler(E)]
--------------------------------------------
...
..
.
With his Blessing of the Traveler boosting his movement speed by 50% on roads and reducing his stamina consumption—not that the latter mattered all that much—Vahn was able to cover the thirty-six kilometers separating him and Lupusregina from the Fortress City E-Rantel in just under two and a half hours.
"Look at these fools, building grand castles and fortresses like children playing with sand. It makes me want to knock the whole thing down..." Lupusregina remarked, her tone playful but her golden eyes serious, full of derision.
"I understand that, as a Werewolf programmed to hate them, you aren't particularly fond of humans," Vahn acknowledged. "But remember what I told you about Karma. If you kill wantonly, it won't be long before a force or power appears that's able to put a stop to your reign of terror. Even the Gods are susceptible to the whims of fate, so unless you're acting in self-defense or the defense of others, killing is generally a mistake."
Understanding that Lupusregina's and Nazarick's stance toward humans was the result of their programming, Vahn didn't chastise her too harshly. Both he and Ainz believed they could grow beyond their programming, so while there were bound to be instances where her monstrous instincts got the better of her, he would do his best to facilitate her growth as a person rather than a monster.
"Don't worry. I intend to be on my very best behavior while we're traveling together~" Lupusregina asserted, her voice a low, sensual, and husky purr as she clung to Vahn's right arm and affectionately rubbed her temple and cheek against his shoulder. This caused the many men stealing glances at her to frown, but since causing trouble at the city's gates was a good way to end up in a dungeon, no one approached them until it was their turn to pass through the checkpoint.
"Wait—you're the Great Healer, Vahn Mason, aren't you?" questioned the Guard Captain in charge of the checkpoint, his eyes widening in surprise as Vahn and Lupusregina stepped forward for processing. The two stood out considerably due to their exotic appearance, and since the guards of each checkpoint had been told to keep an eye out for an inordinately tall man with dark hair, immaculate brown skin, and striking green eyes, Vahn was virtually impossible to misidentify.
"I am Vahn Mason, yes," responded Vahn, presenting his clean copper Adventurer plate and the request slate he had been given when he set out as an escort. It was supposed to permit him re-entry into the city without having to pay, but it evidently wasn't necessary. His brief stint with Gazef's cavalry had earned him a reputation as a healer capable of healing hundreds without the need for rest. There was no way the city administration would make it difficult for a healer of his caliber to enter their city, so the moment it was confirmed that his Adventurer plate was genuine, he and Lupusregina were permitted to pass through, bypassing the usual entry procedures...
...
..
.
"I suppose humans aren't completely hopeless if they're smart enough to recognize your greatness~" hummed Lupusregina, walking with her hands behind her head, drawing considerable attention as doing so put her body on full display. She was trying to show Vahn how despicable humans were by amassing their greedy, lust-filled gazes. Unfortunately, he understood it was natural for men and women alike to admire and covet beauty, so he wasn't going to denounce humanity simply because they were captivated by the deliberate display of her phenomenal figure.
"Don't forget that we're playing the part of humans right now. You need to be careful to avoid distinguishing language..." chided Vahn, his tone lower than usual but still patient.
"Of course..." responded Lupusregina, lowering her arms and adopting a marginally more serious expression as she began sweeping the area like the bodyguard she was intended to be. Vahn didn't require her protection, but as he was playing the part of a healer who preferred to avoid killing, people would find it odd if he didn't have an escort prepared to take lives in his stead. Without one, he would be viewed as too soft a target, forcing him to fend off the various organizations that would invariably attempt to capture and force him to serve their ends...
...
..
.
With the guards at the entrance to the middle district welcoming him in much the same way as those guarding the city's entrances, Vahn wasn't surprised when, upon reaching the Guild, he was immediately requested to meet with the Guildmaster.
"Thank you for coming. And on behalf of the people of E-Rantel and the surrounding villages, thank you for rendering aid to them in their time of need..." expressed the Guildmaster, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a handlebar mustache, thick brows, serious brown eyes, and permed grey hair that resembled an afro. The man, Pluton Ainzach, was once a Mithril-Ranked Adventurer, and though it had been more than a decade since his retirement, he had a muscular build that made it clear he had continued to hone his skills despite his deskwork.
"I did what anyone with my particular set of skills would have done in the same situation," countered Vahn, accepting Pluton's firm handshake with a relaxed, naturally dignified smile.
"And it's in recognition of those skills that I've been authorized to elevate you to the status of a special Mithril-Ranked Adventurer," revealed Pluton, cracking a smile as Vahn's brows raised in surprise.
Before Vahn could remark that jumping five Ranks from Copper to Mithril in a single go was excessive, Pluton retracted his hand and explained, "I understand that this might come as a surprise, but it's a decision that was made after careful consideration. The two hundred and eighteen villagers you healed aside, you were able to break an ambush that would have cost our Kingdom a seasoned group of Platinum-Ranked Adventurers. It would be counterintuitive to keep you at a lower rank when you've demonstrated skills that could eventually qualify you for Adamantite."
"Then I will accept it under the precondition that my companion here is granted the same rank," conceded Vahn, prompting Lupusregina to smile and wave from behind him as he explained, "Her beauty is matched by her strength. Since you're a man and have eyes, I don't believe I need to say more."
"Very well. If someone of your caliber is vouching for her strength, she must be extraordinary..." responded Pluton, opposing the urge to steal a glance at Lupusregina's scantily clad appearance, as he didn't know what kind of relationship she and Vahn had. He had instructions from the Mayor to do everything in his power to ingratiate the Guild with Vahn, so he held the latter's gaze as if his life and career depended on it.
"There is an easy way to demonstrate that," Vahn asserted, glancing back at Lupusregina over his shoulder as he requested her to, "Please allow the Guildmaster to examine your weapon."
"If you insist~" responded Lupusregina, casually removing her axe from her back and stepping forward to present it to Pluton with narrowed eyes that gleamed with mischief.
'This woman is incredibly dangerous...' Pluton acknowledged, his instincts as an Adventurer sounding alarms in his mind as he extended his hands to accept Lupusregina's weapon. Even before she released it, he could feel it was going to be heavy. And though he did his utmost to brace himself, he was unable to prevent the side with the axe head from slamming loudly to the floor, shattering the floorboards and cracking the Guild Hall's concrete foundation.
"What's the matter? Did it slip...?" asked Lupusregina, unable to prevent a slightly sadistic smile from adorning her face as she watched Pluton try to raise her weapon to no avail. The fact that he could briefly separate its tip from the floor was fairly impressive, but with a weight exceeding 270kg, it was beyond his ability to wield.
"The Lady's strength is indeed impressive..." conceded Pluton, his voice a low groan and his brows beading with sweat as he gave up trying to raise Lupusregina's absurdly heavy axe and oriented its handle toward her.
"Matched only by my beauty~" hummed Lupusregina, borrowing Vahn's words as she grabbed the very end of the handle, swept it past Pluton's body in a flourish, and rested it on her shoulder using little more than her wrist strength. This left Pluton sweating even more profusely, as, having met many Adamantite-Ranked Adventurers in his term as Guildmaster, he had a decent understanding of what they were capable of. To him, it was clear that Lupusregina had entered the Realm of Heroes, heavily implying that Vahn was at the same level...
'I pray to the Gods there are no nobles foolish enough to make these two enemies of the Kingdom...' Pluton internalized. Outwardly, he produced a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow, his expression severe as he invited Vahn and Lupusregina to make themselves comfortable as he saw to the processing of their promotion personally...
...
..
.