Chapter 40: Exasperation
"Hey, Vahn...if things go south during the Rating Game, how would you feel about spending the rest of our lives here...?" asked Rias, caressing Vahn's chest as she lay next to him, using his right shoulder as a pillow while Akeno used his left.
"I don't know about the rest of our lives, but we can definitely stay until I'm strong enough that you never have to compromise with anyone or be made to do something against your will..." responded Vahn, his expression and tone serious.
"Mmnn...and I suppose I can't just abandon my people..." muttered Rias, closing her eyes and sighing from her nose.
"I don't think that will be an issue," contended Akeno, pointing out, "The compression ratio here in the Eighth Floor is already 6.8 to 1. By the time we reach the Tenth Floor, we can spend a week in here for every day that passes in the outside world. Even if we just take a Devil's Sabbatical, that would give us seventy years to reorganize and gather our strength..."
"A Devil's Sabbatical...?" asked Vahn, prompting Rias to explain, "Nn...it's not uncommon for Young Devils in arranged marriages to have misgivings about their assigned partners. In such cases, it's possible to postpone the nuptials for up to ten years. Riser will doubtlessly make a fuss, but I don't care what that fiery chickenhead thinks..."
Piggybacking off Rias's words, Akeno revealed, "And if the two of you can produce a child within that period, the engagement will naturally be made null and void."
"Nn...but we don't know if it's even possible to get me pregnant within the Corridor..." grumbled Rias.
"It should be possible..." said Vahn, causing Rias's and Akeno's brows to rise as he explained, "This place changes according to the desires of the people who enter it, so if you believe you can get pregnant and we aim to make it happen, it will..."
"Are you suggesting you could impregnate me now if it's something we both desired...?" asked Rias.
"It's possible..." confirmed Vahn, meeting Rias's gaze as he revealed, "We could also do it outside because the Corridor is ultimately a manifestation of my power and desire. So if you want a baby, I will make it happen...not in a few hundred years, but right now..."
"Oh, my~" hummed Akeno, cupping her cheek with an especially amused and alluring smile.