[September 30th DxD/May 24th DBT]
Though there were instances of people getting snared by man-eating plants, sneak-attacked by Mimics disguised as tree trunks, and stabbed through the feet by blade-like grass, the investigation squad was making steady progress without a single casualty.
"It's like an act of God..." muttered Tristain, his pupils contracting to the size of pinholes before dilating as Vahn effortlessly regrew the missing arm of a man who had it bitten off by a massive, crimson-skinned Forest Worm. The creature had a mouth full of sharp, oculus-like teeth, so as the man attempted to defend himself and got his arm trapped, it was snipped off cleanly at the midpoint of his right bicep.
"I'm just doing as I was hired to do," Vahn countered calmly, earning himself a mix of incredulous and unsettled looks. After all, while healing magic capable of regenerating lost limbs wasn't unheard of, it was known to be exceedingly taxing on both the caster and patient. More often than not, if the patient had lost too much blood or was simply too old and worn out to undergo treatment, they wouldn't possess the requisite life force to fuel the healing.
Contrary to everything those present knew about healing magic, Vahn had demonstrated the ability to treat all manner of illnesses and injuries without exhausting the patient's life force in the slightest. He didn't even require an incantation. They just brought the patient to him, and within a few minutes, whatever malady had possessed them was removed—along with any chronic illness and injuries that might have plagued them prior to being brought before him.
"Is there anything else? If not, I was rather enjoying the lap pillow I was receiving before this commotion started," Vahn remarked, leaving Tristain and his men at a loss.
Regaining his senses, Tristain looked to two of his men and barked, "Carry this man to the rear hospital tent. When he wakes, ensure he's given three hot meals and as many days of rest before being placed on light duty."
"Y-Yes, Sir...!"
"Understood, Sir...!"
With his duty finished, Vahn was prepared to return to the interior of the canvas and hide tent that had been set up for him and Lupusregina when Tristain called out to him, saying, "I beg your pardon, Sir Vahn. But could I request some of your time?"
"What's up...?" asked Vahn, his casual response leaving Tristain at a brief loss before he collected himself and questioned, "I do not wish to come across as rude or overstepping my bounds, but after witnessing the many miracles you've performed, I must know...is there no limit to the maladies you're able to treat?"
"Everything has its limits, Baron Tristain..." Vahn responded, adopting a faint smile as he hummed, "But the curious thing about limits is that they only apply until someone breaks them."
"Then—" started Tristain, his words cutting off as Vahn unceremoniously turned from him and began walking to his tent, with Lupusregina joining him after a few paces. In truth, Vahn didn't care whether Tristain or the world at large learned of his abilities, but he had no obligation to disclose them. If the blonde-haired, bright-eyed Baron had someone who required treatment, he would find a way to bring them before him...
"Alright, now, where were we?" asked Vahn, taking a seat atop a fur-covered sofa. Instead of sitting next to him, Lupusregina knelt atop a thick, cushioned mat with her hands folded atop her lap.
"We were at the part where the masked killer had just revealed to the female lead that he was calling from inside her house~!" answered a chipper, boyish-sounding voice. At the same time, Aura, who had been masking her presence and concealing herself while he attended to the wounded laborer, hopped over the back of the sofa and sat next to him.
"Mmn...that sounds accurate..." affirmed Vahn, sitting with his left arm hanging on the sofa's back while a large holographic display appeared before him. The tent was sufficiently soundproofed, so even when the movie Aura had him playing for her resumed, its intense, slasher-style music and the female lead's dramatized screams didn't reach the tent's exterior.
"So, what was that all about...?" questioned Aura, lying across Vahn's lap, propping her head up with her right hand, and dipping into a bag of potato chips with her left.
"One of the laborers accidentally trespassed into a Forest Worm den and paid the price with an arm," Vahn explained, causing Aura to tilt her head and raise her gaze thoughtfully as she asked, "That's those big red worms with the lamprey lips and the spiked tails, right?"
"That's correct," Vahn affirmed calmly.
"Mmn...should I have my pets clear out more of the forest? I know you said not to go overboard, but we only have like two hours a day to hang out like this..." Aura grumbled, puffing her cheeks. Tristain and his men weren't aware of it, but Aura was the central reason their expedition had gone as smoothly as it had. She had been placed in charge of the Great Forest of Tob by Albedo, so when she learned Vahn was accompanying a group of Knights to investigate the site of Ainz's battle with Shalltear, she naturally contacted him to offer her assistance.
"As long as you don't completely chase out the local fauna, it should be fine," stated Vahn, caressing Aura's neck and the underside of her chin as he noted, "I know you don't care much for humans, but if their progress is too easy, they may become emboldened to send a larger force to pioneer the forest in the future. If that happens, many innocents are bound to lose their lives..."
deep purring
Using her Animal Mimicry Skill, Aura, sporting a closed-eyed, contented smile, emulated the purring of a large cat. She hadn't given up on her goal of taming Vahn, but the more she visited him, the more she came to enjoy his casual doting.
"I feel like my identity is being stolen..." Lupusregina sighed, her wolf-like ears twitching beneath her animal-earred habit. If the person occupying Vahn's lap were one of her sisters, she would have fought them for it. But Aura's status and power as a Floor Guardian were so far above hers—she didn't dare to compete.
"Mmn...I should probably be getting back..." Aura conceded, turning onto her back and guiding Vahn's hand to her stomach as she asked, "Is there anything you want me to pass along?"
"Just my regards," responded Vahn, shaking his head and giving Aura's belly a light pat. Another reason that she had been coming to him was to pass along the list of materials and supplies that Nazarick required for its expansion. In the process, she also apprised him of the goings-on of The Great Tomb, which, at that moment in time, was preparing for Cocytus's mock but very real invasion of the Lizardmen Tribes to the north.
"Alright, then, off I go~!" chimed Aura, tucking her knees to her chest before kicking out and leaping from the sofa to her feet. As she did, a large monster resembling a six-limbed chameleon materialized, its form previously invisible. Despite its leafy-green, red-spotted pattern, it was a Level 76 monster with mastery over Lightning and Light Magic. If loosed on a nation, it would be considered a Calamity-Class monster capable of destroying a Kingdom. But as one of Aura's pets, its primary function was to transport her without being seen.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Lord Vahn~" Aura pealed, beaming happily and waving at Vahn before she and her mount had light warp around them, making them imperceptible to conventional and low-tier magical detection methods. Then, with the back entrance of his tent briefly opening, the two were gone, leaving a backdraft in their wake.
"There she goes..." Vahn mused aloud, exhaling from his nose with a faint smile.
"I say this as respectfully as possible, but good riddance..." Lupusregina hummed, occupying the spot to Vahn's right before laying across his lap in an overtly sensual and seductive manner compared to Aura. Similarly, instead of caressing her head or patting her belly, Vahn rubbed his right hand along her warm and bare ass, slipped his fingers beneath the cloth adorning her waist, and began sliding his middle finger along her hot and ready slit.
"That aside...I'm curious to hear your opinion on Nazarick's invasion of the Great Lake..." expressed Vahn, slipping his left hand into the fabric veiling Lupusregina's weighty but extraordinarily soft and malleable breasts. Her fluffy, red-furred tail naturally unfurled as her arousal increased, but as he had asked her a question, her expression remained calm and introspective as she seriously contemplated her response.
"As Lord Vahn knows, I don't generally have opinions on things like that..." Lupusregina sighed, her face flushing as Vahn's fingers entered her pussy and began stirring her insides.
"But..." Lupusregina stressed, her golden eyes flashing as she appended, "I think it's a waste of time and resources, especially since the Lizardmen keep to themselves and lack the means to present a significant challenge to Lord Cocytus. I would understand if our aim were to rule over the Great Forest, but as it's contained within the Re-Estize Kingdom, it would surely be more prudent to focus on efforts on the region's established powers. I honestly don't know what Lady Albedo and Lord Demiurge were thinking when they suggested we attack them unprovoked..."
"It does seem needlessly callous..." Vahn muttered, his tone low and his expression a mask of impassivity. He hadn't opposed the idea when Ainz presented it to him, as Lizardmen were considered monsters with a tribal, warrior-centric culture. But while he agreed with Ainz's view that Cocytus required command experience in the event Nazarick were to go to war, he shared Lupusregina's mindset—that The Great Tomb's time and resources were better spent dealing with known enemies than creating new ones for themselves...
Holding Vahn's gaze with narrowed eyes, Lupusregina broke the silence that had settled between them by asking, "Are you thinking of persuading Lord Ainz to call off the invasion...?"
"The thought has crossed my mind..." Vahn affirmed with a nod. "But I currently have no intention of doing so. Instead, I will observe the battle as I did when Ainz faced Shalltear. Ainz previously assured me that only the warriors who chose to fight and resist would be killed, and I have no reason to doubt his word..."
'I'm more concerned about Demiurge...' thought Vahn, recalling the scent of blood and decay that hung around Demiurge whenever the demon-like man entered his Domain. It wasn't a physical odor, but something deeper. He initially wrote it off as a byproduct of the man being conceived of as a literal Devil, but as the scent grew stronger each time their paths crossed, Vahn was almost positive that Demiurge was committing atrocities behind his and Ainz's backs...
"Then I'll leave you to think about and discuss that kind of thing with Lord Ainz and Lady Albedo. My thought process and what I desire is much less complicated..." Lupusregina asserted as a throaty, titillating groan. At the same time, she drew her knee up to her chest and twisted her hips as she rose to a seated position, resulting in her straddling Vahn with her back to his front. Then, leaning forward until her hands were on the red-carpeted floor, she began swaying her butt seductively and lightly smacking Vahn's face with her tail.
"I happen to be quite fond of such straightforwardness..." Vahn hummed, his expression and tone smoldering as he grabbed Lupusregina firmly by her waist and raised her up like he was preparing to bite into an especially juicy hamburger. She was already more than prepared, but since she had always been proactive when it came to servicing him with mouth, tongue, and remarkably accommodating throat, he felt that it was only fair that he returned the favor...
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..
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