Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Vahn went on to listen to Loki's entire recounting of her conversation with Kali, including the plans and compromises they had come up with. He had already known about the establishment of the Amazoness community, as they had already naturally started to congregate together, but a lot of the other information was entirely new to him. If he were to be honest, Vahn didn't actually know how to deal with the Amazonesses that easily, which was why he had been coming up with a 'seal' of sorts to deal with the situation. Most Amazonesses, however, would oppose such a thing since it would be 'denying' their own instincts and, in a way, was considerably 'unfair' to them as a species...Since Telkyura would be passing laws to prevent children from being victimized in the future, it was already infinitely better than it had been in the past. One of the compromises that they had agreed to was having a few trustworthy and powerful women move into Telkyura to manage the Coliseum and provide a basic education to growing children. Vahn couldn't simply do away with their culture as, from a certain perspective, what the Amazonesses had built was 'better' than the cultures that had been derived from wealth, greed, and corruption. Much like the Xenos, they coexisted with the environment instead of trying to exploit it, bartering goods and sharing what resources they had with the entire community instead of trying to consolidate it and exploit each other for personal gain. The only thing that truly mattered was strength and individual power, not a person's birth and their ability to exploit a system that was rigged in favor of a few 'elites'...Bringing slow reforms while allowing the Amazonesses to continue living in pseudo-isolationism was better for both the Amazonesses themselves and the other races inhabiting the Continent. With time, it would be possible to change the way the Amazonesses lived, especially with several from the younger generation potentially graduating from the School. They would also be able to gather the 'deviants' that would be born within Telskyura, providing them a safe haven where their uniqueness could be developed instead of becoming the source for their suffering. It was inarguably tragic for girls like Tiona, Tione, Aisha, Lena, and even Taliah, having to grow up in a rather brutal society where they were 'different' from everyone else. This made them easy targets for the ire of 'normal' Amazonesses and, except in a few cases, most of the 'unique' Amazonesses would end up dying early on if they weren't 'protected' by Kali...Vahn's only problem with the situation was how he would deal with Kali and, to a lesser extent, the other women that Loki had named. Freya was one of the exceptions Vahn had made in the past and, though they had become a lot closer now, Vahn still wasn't comfortable with the idea of having children for 'political' benefits. He would rather get to know the mothers of his children beforehand, creating a child through love and mutual affection instead of 'necessity'. Loki had already expected this, however, informing Vahn that Kali was waiting for him in Melen, allowing him the opportunity to accompany her Familia on its sea voyage back to Telskyura. This would give up upwards of three months to familiarize himself with Kali, her Captains, and a few other central figures within the Kali Familia...Hearing this, Vahn couldn't help feeling a little gratified and moderately curious, the first in relation to the fact that Loki had taken his 'nature' into consideration while the latter emotion was the result of his intrigue towards traveling by sea. Vahn had never even been on a boat before, much less a large sea-faring vessel. He had been a big fan of One Piece in his previous life so the thought of voyaging by sea, especially on a vessel full of Amazonesses, seemed like an enjoyable time. Since Tiona and Tione would be accompanying him, he would be able to avoid a scenario where the other Amazonesses tried to force themselves on him as even the Captains of the Kali Familia wouldn't be able to defeat either sister...At the same time, Vahn knew this was also a way in which Loki wanted him to 'relax' a bit, as the journey would take upwards of three months, most of which was spent in leisure. There would be the occasional battle against a sea monster, but the Amazonesses themselves would easily be able to deal with such attacks. After all, much like Tiona and Tione, the vast majority of Amazonesses had the [Diving] Development Ability and were almost as capable in the water as they were on land. Without contest, they were the most capable sailors on the entire Continent and, if not for their policy of secluding themselves in their home country, they would easily dominate the seas. This was how so many Amazoness had been able to flee to the Dark Continent in the past, traveling through seas that even seasoned veterans would avoid...The problem with this arrangement was that Vahn would only have one body back at the Manor and, unless he gave up his free time with his children, his only time to enter the Sub-Space orb would be in the evenings. It seemed like Loki was trying to 'force' him to actually relax as most of the goddesses had actually complained about the fact he had gotten back into the groove of things too quickly. They argued that there were already a lot of things going on right now and there was no need to rush things forward, especially with how strong everyone had become.With the inclusion of the Valkyrie, the military might of the Alliance had become 'monstrous' and, unless there was a rogue Hero on the level of Heracles, which wouldn't make sense, there were no 'real' threats to deal with. Now was an opportunity to shore up and strengthen the foundation of the Alliance, increasing the average level of each member and promoting the growth of the economy even further. At the same time, he could be gathering information while observing the changes in the Iron Hills and Westport. Even these wouldn't require his direct interference, however, meaning Vahn was very quickly transitioning to the point where 'others' acted at his direction instead of him having to resolve everything on his own...Knowing that Loki, and the other goddesses, only wanted the best for him, Vahn eventually ended up agreeing with her and decided he would spend the next three or so months focusing on his family life and the matter with Telskyura. This would also allow everyone else around him to relax a little as, in order to make his life 'easier', there were several people acting on Vahn's behalf at any given moment. If he took a real 'break', they would also be able to focus on other things instead of trying to deal with the matters he had put on their plate, even if it was indirectly. Chief amongst these was Chloe, who had been spending most of her time in Westport with her Shadow Corps, while even Sylfia would certainly want to spend time with him...As a result of their discussion, Vahn ended up in the dining room with most of the core decision makers within the Manor, explaining his decision and how they would be moving forward. At the bare minimum, he would be taking around three months off to focus on consolidating his relationships and just spending time with everyone. This would allow him to have plenty of time with his children and be by Shakti's side when she gave birth. If possible, the 'lull' would continue after he dealt with Telskyura, followed by another 'wave' of children that would inevitably come as a result. After all, it was decided that Tiona, Tione, and Aisha would want children of their own, followed by the inclusion of Kali, Hippolyta, Myrina, and one of Kali's Captains. This meant, at the very least, there would be nine more children born into their very large family in the future, including two Vanir. Since there was a fair chance he would also end up having a child with Fortuna and Sylfia at some point, the children in the Manor would likely increase to well over thirty in the next year or so...Fortunately, preparations had already been made for this and, with some of the children reaching an age where their education would officially begin, Aki, Milan, and Syr would be home-schooling the children in the 'classroom' section of the West Wing. Ever since they had learned how many children Vahn had in the Divination, preparations for having between 80-100 children within the Manor had long been underway and, even though it would become chaotic, there were more than enough Maids within the Manor to take care of everything. Instead of just Maemi and Emiru, there were Merribelle, Elizabelle, Katsuya, Momo, Diana, and the twenty members of the Artemis Familia. Even Mona was more than willing to help out while the actual mothers of the children weren't shy when it came to providing their own support...Realizing the consequences his 'antics' had brought about, Vahn found himself laying on the roof of the Manor with Fenrir snuggled up at his side. One of his 'optional' quests was to have a harem with fifty-nine different races while another required him to sire a total of one hundred children. At this point, even though he hadn't 'done' anything with them just yet, Vahn knew there were more than a few Valkyrie that had some 'expectations' towards him. The same could be said for many of the Xenos, meaning Vahn could very easily hit the requirement for both optional quests in a relatively short period of time. There were a lot of people who would be more than willing to change their race to suit the needs of his quest, even though they were unaware of its existence...Vahn recalled the time in the past where he had the 'stray' thought of having a partner in every race, even though Lili had sated his curiosity about several races. He understood well why the Objective itself was called [Curiosity], but wondered what kind of reward he would receive for completing such an objective. Since it was a 'Main Quest', Vahn assumed the benefits were either directly related to The Path or, at the very least, they would follow him into other records. Before he could worry about that, however, Vahn still needed to Unify the other regions of the Continent and bring the various Kingdoms and Provinces under his control...Releasing a sigh, Vahn turned his head to look down at Fenrir, finding her scarlet eyes staring back at him with mild concern and a depth of emotions he may never truly understand. He found more than a little comfort in these glimmering red irises, causing Vahn to smile naturally as he hugged Fenrir close to his body and muttered, "There is still so much left to do, even before I begin thinking of ways to save Eva...I cannot even imagine what awaits us later on, Fenrir...will you still follow your useless Master, even knowing the journey will be long and arduous...?" Vahn didn't even know 'how' he would save Eva when the time came, nor if he would even be able to oppose the power that had influenced her fate. He couldn't simply take her out of the record, as that may very well 'doom' it to destruction. Even if he tried, there were various problems associated with such an action as, unless he could remake Eva's entire body somehow, it may not even be possible to 'take' her from the record from the outset...Fenrir's eyes twitched slightly when she heard her Master say 'useless' since, from her perspective, if he was 'useless', then other people weren't even worthy of the air they breathed. His life was the culmination of endless 'impossibilities' that had been given shape in reality, irrespective of the rules, restrictions, and common sense of the world. As a result, Fenrir used her soft paw pads to 'smack' her Master's head with a genuinely angry expression on her face as she said, "You should never say things like that, Master..." Then, allowing the expression on her face to soften, Fenrir nuzzled against the side of her Master's face and added, "I will follow you, no matter how hard things get, Master. Even if you wanted to throw me away and leave me behind, I would continue to chase after you, no matter what..."Punctuating her words, Fenrir gently licked Vahn's jawline, causing pleasant feelings to spread through his heart as he tightly embraced this exceptionally lovable and reliable companion of his. Vahn wouldn't even be surprised if Fenrir awakened an Innate related to loyalty in the future, truly becoming his 'eternal' companion that will stand at his side through various records. The thought that she would always be with him made Vahn's worries about the future lessen a great deal. Even if he faced setbacks in the future, so long as he had the support of this first subordinate of his, Vahn felt like he would undoubtedly recover and continue to move forward...---Early the next day, after extricating himself from Fenrir's icy chamber, Vahn wore a set of casual clothes before he went to meet up with Tiona and Tione. Though there was no particular rush, they had decided it would be best to set out as soon as possible. The journey by sea to Telskyura would take several months and, with winter fast approaching, it would be even more dangerous if they delayed things further. Though the sailors of the Kali Familia would undoubtedly be able to deal with the ice flows and the various sea monsters that would be following their migrational paths, it was still better to err on the side of caution. Even gods, once descended into the mortal world, couldn't fight against natural disasters, especially while out at sea. There were a few exceptions, of course, but Kali certainly wasn't one of them...Vahn found Tiona and Tione waiting in the inner courtyard with Loki, Hephaestus, Hestia, Artemis, Eina, Syr, Ais, Lefiya, Emiru, Maemi, Diana, Terra, and Alexa. Though his main body would be staying behind, they still wanted to see him off properly since 'Vahn was still Vahn', even in his avatar. It was things like this that gave Vahn a profound sense of fulfillment, causing a natural and gratified smile to appear on his face as he said, "Thank you, everyone...Tiona, Tione, let's go change your fates. It is time to make good on my promise, at last..."(A/N: Vahn still has a few 'major' quests that he needs to complete before the record comes to an end, even though there isn't that much time before he is supposed to leave Danmachi. Since a few people may have forgotten, I will go ahead and copy+paste the 'important' quests that are still on the plate~!)--------------------------------------------------------------[Quest: The Path of an Emperor Begins With the First Step]Rank: ZenithObjective: Unify the Continent of Eden:(2/9), Conquer the Living Dungeon, Tartarus(0/1), Form a Divine Council with a God of every Major Divinity(19/30)Optional Objectives: [Curiosity] Form a Harem with at least one member of every race:(30/59), [Inspiration] Acquire 10,000 Followers, Subordinates, or Retainers(10,000/10,000), [Might] Overcome the restriction of Level 10:(7/10), [Virility] Sire 100 Children(19/100)Rewards: 10,000,000,000OP, Quest Creation System Function Unlocked, 1x[Innate Awakening Pill], 1x[Page of the Akashic Tome]Failure Conditions: Forfeiture of Main Quest ChainPenalty: Record Backlash, Divine Law Cataclysm Initiated--------------------------------------------------------------[Quest: I Shall Seal The Heavens]Rank: SSSObjective: Obtain 100,000,000,000 OP and purchase a [Dimensional Anchor: Stasis] from the system shop.Rewards: All unlocked functions in 'The Path' evolve, 3x[Spirit Vessels], 1x[Enlightenment Stone]Failure Condition(s): Death, Failure to obtain the required amount of OP before leaving the record.Penalty: Danmachi Record inaccessible until Tier 8, All Karma Nullified after leaving the record.--------------------------------------------------------------[Quest: I Shall Return]Rank: SSSObjective: Complete [Quest: Origin of Heroes](6/9). Establish 'Eternal Bonds' with gods that possess Primary Divinities related to Time, Space, Bonds, and Fate (1/4). Current: [Hestia]Rewards: Reduction of requirements for [Quest: I Shall Seal The Heavens]. 10x Reduction in necessary Origin Points.Failure Condition(s): Death, Exiting the Record Before CompletionPenalty: Danmachi Record inaccessible until Tier 8, 10,000 karma based on conditions (5/12)--------------------------------------------------------------(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Compromise and Politics are interrelated...','Fenrir is the Dao of Fluff, forever and eternal~!','Vahn is about to experience the legendary 36P o_o...!')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

As Melen was only located a little more than three kilometers away from Orario, it was a very short journey with Vahn, Tiona, and Tione all being capable of using [Shundo]. However, as it had been a long time since Vahn actually 'walked' anywhere, with flying being his primary means of transport, it was somewhat refreshing to be able to join the scenery they passed along the way. The area surrounding Orario was very scenic while the record of Danmachi itself was full of beautiful and breathtaking landscapes. Vahn was able to enjoy several sights that most people could only dream of but, on occasion, it was nice to just travel leisurely alongside some of the people he cared about.To make things more interesting, Tiona had started a game of [Shundo] tag, that had the three of them darting around along the landscape, trying to evade each other using the surrounding terrain as cover. Vahn enjoyed a big advantage, being able to detect the girls within his domain and use [Shundo] to a much higher proficiency, but it was still very fun. Seeing Tiona and Tione acrobatically navigate the terrain and try to pull feints against him, only to end up falling into his arms regardless, brought a smile to Vahn's face each time. It also made the trip to Melen seem much shorter, as time spent playing always seemed to pass much faster than normal...As such, Vahn and his two Amazoness companions arrived at the port town of Melen, located on the shores of Lolog lake and having a small population of only 40,000 permanent residents. This homely place was affectionately referred to as Orario's access to the sea, providing fresh fish to the City while serving as the primary hub for merchant vessels trying to conduct trade inland. The architecture primarily used wood for the foundation while the overall structure used the wattle and daub method, interweaving stray and hay before compacting it with processed mud, lime, and other building materials. Most of the buildings had slate-tile roofs and Vahn could smell the nearby sea, carried on the rather strong wind flowing in from coast. It was already much colder here than it was in Orario yet, everywhere he looked, Vahn could see people with smiles on their faces as they happily worked alongside each other to unload the early morning catch...Tiona, who had been standing close at Vahn's side, had her arms leisurely placed behind her head as she mused, "It's been a long time since I've visited Melen. I'm looking forward to being able to travel by sea once again~." Though they had used the land route when their journey began, Tiona and Tione had both served and Kali's personal vessel to train out at sea a few times. They both had experience fighting underwater and had a very high tolerance to both pressure and cold, much like most of the Amazonesses who served on such vessels. As for Tione's take on things, she had a stern expression as she muttered, "We're not here to play around, Tiona. Don't forget our purpose on this journey...!"Tione could already feel her blood boiling, completely invalidating the cool sea breeze as she looked forward to stomping the woman who had made her life a living hell. In the past, whenever she would make her 'Master' upset, it wasn't uncommon for the latter to beat her until Tione had been left bedridden for weeks. Once, Argana had even broken both of her arms and fractured several of Tione's ribs, all while insulting her as being 'weaker' than Tiona. Now, Tione knew she would be able to defeat the cruel and vicious woman who played at being her Master. She had even been tasked by Loki to personally deal with Argana as, no matter how things developed moving forward, there was no way such a woman could ever be a suitable mother. After all, back within Telskyura, Argana had the nickname 'Voracious Killer', as she had a propensity of biting the jugular and even taking large chunks out of her opponents using nothing more than her teeth. Though it had healed now, Tione had also lost a large chunk of her calve in the past after pissing off Argana when the latter had a little too much to drink...Remembering all of the times she had suffered under Argana's cruelty, Tione tightly gripped her fists in expectation, a murderous look in her eyes. Vahn and Tiona both noticed this, completely understanding Tione's current state of mind. Tiona had been there to see her sister's suffering and, though he hadn't been there personally, Vahn had seen the events from both sisters' perspectives. He knew that, if he had to choose between Argana and Bache, it wasn't even a contest. Bache had been a relatively kind and caring Master to Tiona, even if she was still harsh during their training. She was also the one that allowed Tiona to keep books related to heroes, giving her hope during the darkest part of her life...Vahn reached out his hand, grasping Tione's fist firmly as he said, "Whatever you decide, I will support you..." Though he knew it was 'better' for people to move on, leaving their tragic past behind them, Vahn also knew it was borderline impossible for some. Experiencing great cruelty, all while feeling you are powerless to change it, is something most people can't overcome. Tione had managed to escape with Tiona in the past, but the trauma she had experienced due to Argana's treatment was deeply rooted in her psyche. If she wanted to duel Argana to the death, Vahn wouldn't allow anyone to interfere, even Kali herself...though the latter probably wouldn't care at all.For a moment, Vahn, Tione, and Tiona were enjoying a heartwarming yet tense atmosphere amongst themselves. It wasn't until a burly looking fisherman, carrying a wet net full of a fresh catch, gave them a wry smile that they were brought back to reality. Tione gave a rare blush while Tiona just laughed out loud, just as she normally did when embarrassed. Vahn's own cheeks felt a little hot, even against the cold air, so he just gave a small nod to the fisherman before heading towards the port. There were several fishing vessels in port but, standing out amongst them all, Vahn could see a large red twin-masted Brig Sloop moored in the center of the harbor. It was a large vessel around 50m long, possessing a unique structure that had a very 'foreign' feel to it compared to the relatively standard vessels anchored nearby...Tione and Tiona had confirmed it was indeed Kali's ship and, with the large eight-armed female emblem adoring the sails, it wasn't really a point of contention as to who the ship belonged to. This was clearly the Kali Familia emblem and, as a result of her reputation, most of the other ships gave them a 'very' wide berth. Some ships were even traveling in a very wide arc to avoid passing anywhere close to the large blood-red ship and its crew. As for the crew themselves, Vahn could see several nearly-naked women diving into the large saltwater lake, disappearing for what felt like several minutes before reemerging with large fish they had caught by hand.Seeing this, even from a distance, Vahn wondered what it would be like to go fishing while relying on nothing but his physical capabilities. He had never really dived too deeply into a large body of water and couldn't help feeling a little intrigued by the concept. Unlike 'most' people, he didn't really need to breathe so there was no limit to the depth and duration of his dives. Vahn knew that, even with the large size of the Continents, they made up less than five percent of the planar world of Danmachi, the rest almost entirely comprised of an ocean that extended several dozen kilometers down into the dark abyss where the light from the sun had no hope of reaching...While humoring the thought of exploring the ocean's depths, Vahn came to a sudden stop as the aura of three gods entered his perception. One was far more powerful than the other two and seemed to be making its way towards them, causing Vahn to gesture to Tiona and Tione as he turned his head towards the direction of their 'guest'. Given the circumstances, it was almost undoubtedly Kali herself and Vahn was curious about what she was up to by meeting them without an escort. Though she didn't have any reason to 'fear' for her safety, it was still a very strange decision to make since Vahn did have a track record of killing gods...From around the corner connecting to an alleyway, a small brown-skinned girl wearing a blue smock-dress came into view. The dress had a squarish hole where the head protruded, adorned with cream colored and green stripes, just like the hem of the dress. Since the hem extended past her knees, it gave the girl a very youthful appearance and, if not for the golden ornaments on her wrists and ankles, she might have looked like a normal young girl. Even without such adornments, however, the long black hair tied into a loose ponytail that extended to the back of her calves, the crimson red pupils, and the fact that she had exuded a feeling of intense 'threat' made her stand out quite a bit...As soon as the 'young girl' made eye contact with Vahn, she gave a small pouting expression as she said, "Lok said you were very perceptive, but you could have at least played along for a little while, Vahn..." Vahn had already started to emit a bit of pressure from his domain while Tiona and Tione had both assumed combat-ready stances, neither remotely fooled by the 'disguise' of the goddess that had been deeply ingrained into their hearts, minds, and bodies. Even so, Kali didn't really seem bothered by the cautious and hostile reactions of the group, walking forward with a pretend 'innocent' expression on her face as she explained, "Like this, you can refer to me as Chandi, okay? Come on, don't you want to try patting my head~?"Completely ignoring the looks Tiona and Tione were giving her, Kali made her way right before Vahn, looking up at him with a playful and expectant smile. If not for the massive aura and insane bloodlust she exuded, Kali could have easily played the part of an innocent child, something that made Vahn feel apprehensive. Even so, he didn't let it show on his face and, causing Kali's smile to widen greatly, reached out his hand to stroke her head. She was only 138cm tall so it was very easy to place his hand on her head, sending waves of petting energy that caused Kali to show momentary surprise before 'giggling'. This time, Vahn couldn't help himself as he commented, "This act...is kind of disgusting..."Kali poked out her tongue in response, stating confidently, "Who, other than a god, determines how a god should act? Even Loki and Freya were allowed to change, even though they had been stagnant for so many years. Is my 'act' really such a bad thing, if its who I'm willing to become in order to make things easier for you~?" Being one of the older gods in her Pantheon, Kali was nearly as old as Hestia yet, because of her Divinities, she had a far more 'active' role throughout History. She wasn't nearly as 'clever' as Loki, but her experience over more than five hundred million years wasn't something that could be looked down on by most mortals.In response to Kali's words, Vahn moved his hand back, removing the silky black-haired wig that Kali had been wearing, revealing her blood-red hair that curled a bit towards the ends. It easily extended past the small of her back as it flowed down, falling naturally into place as Kali's eyes turned somewhat sharp. Her little tooth, which had been poking out innocently previously, now seemed more like a fang as Kali ran the tip of her tongue across it hard enough to draw blood. Then, with a bit of excitement glimmering in her eyes, Kali stated, "You know, I don't mind if you want to take the lead and do things your way...but, if you are going to disrespect me so readily, Vahn, you should prepare yourself for the consequences. Unless you can beat me head on, don't expect me to just stand idly by as you cause me to lose face in front of my Amazonesses..."Kali had tried to use the information Loki had provided about Vahn to appeal to him in a way that she thought he would prefer. Though Loki mentioned that he had inhibitions about her size, the fact that he had a Pallum in his 'harem' meant he wouldn't be able to use it as a genuine excuse. If he had just played along, Kali had been willing to keep up the pretense for the entire duration of their journey, all so that Vahn's mind would be at ease. Now, he seemed to be doing everything in his power to undermine her intentions and, though Kali also expected this somewhat, it didn't mean she would 'play along' if he wasn't willing...Vahn continued looking down at Kali, then, without minding her 'vicious' look, he reached out his hand and began stroking her head directly this time. The hair of a goddess was usually finer than refined satin so it was a very pleasant feeling against his palm, even though the silky black wig, which seemed to be a 'very' high-quality item, was also rather nice. Then, amidst Kali's confusion, Vahn simply stated, "There will come a time when we have to settle things, but that is beside the point...this whole journey is supposed to be us getting to know each other better, not a version of ourselves that we think is 'suitable' for the occasion. If I can't get close to the real you, there is no way I would be willing to have a child with you...for the time being, we should do our best to get close naturally. Don't play games with me, Kali..."Even as he spoke rather sternly, Vahn's actions 'seemed' gentle, especially with the aid of his [Grooming] and [Hands of Nirvana]. Kali had become momentarily absentminded as she listened to his words, only coming to her senses when the last syllable left his lips. Then, a smile that was the exact opposite of the word 'innocent' appeared on her face as a predatory light glowed in her eyes. She bared all of her teeth like a wild animal before saying, "I'm starting to see how you were able to win over those two troublesome goddesses, Vahn. If that is your wish, I'll be more than happy to oblige you~!"At the end of her words, Kali broke away from Vahn's hand, feeling a strange twinge in her heart that caused her brows to twitch as she began removing her one-piece smock. Before she could do so, however, Vahn had made his way to her side and held down the hem of the fabric, a stern expression on his face as he said, "Just wear that dress for the time being. You stand out quite a bit already, so it would cause problems if you're walking around with next to no clothing on..." Vahn also placed the black wig back on Kali's face, all while she looked at him as if he was spouting something completely ridiculous. He even went out of his way to make sure the wig was seated properly on her head, hiding her blood-red hair and fixing her clothing as if he was incredibly accustomed to the act...(A/N: Never underestimate Papa Vahn...)(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'It's all fun and games when you treat like as if it's a fun game~!','Tione's resentment runs deeper than the ocean...','Kali is wholly unprepared for the abnormality that is Vahn Mason xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Though he had discussed the matter of dealing with Telskyura several times, Vahn found himself in a peculiar situation where he didn't know how or when to take action. Currently, he was filling out a stack of paperwork, something almost equally as confused to him since Vahn knew that printing technology in the record was limited. He wasn't sure who was going through the tedious process of actually writing up the paperwork he constantly seemed to be working on. Still, this wasn't nearly as important as the matter with Telskyura so Vahn the matter to the back of his mind as he wondered how he should initiate things...In almost every other instance, it was the actions of the other country that caused Vahn to take decisive action against them. Dealing with Telskyura was completely different since he would essentially be 'invading' them, even though they hadn't really antagonized them. Just entering the country would be violating laws that they had established thousands of years prior. Because of this, though Vahn knew he 'needed' to take action, he wasn't entirely sure how to go about it without acting like an outright tyrant. He was relying on Tiona and Tione to make the decision since it would be easier to provide 'support' for them on the matter. However, even this wasn't necessarily the best way to go about things as there was a chance the two would be considered 'exiles' that had been marked for death if they brought him into the country...One of the troublesome things about Amazonesses, especially once they were mature, was that there were very few who even remotely feared death. If it was to take down their common enemy, there would 'literally' be hundreds of thousands of Level 2, and higher, Amazonesses throwing their lives away to try and kill Tiona and Tione. It wouldn't matter if they knew the action was futile as, being the followers of a Goddess of Death, dying in battle was the most honorable form of death. Because of this, Amazonesses that had grown beyond their prime would take up arms one last time before venturing into dangerous lands and slaying as many monsters as they could before their own lives were claimed...While thinking about how 'troublesome' foreign affairs could be, Vahn completed the documents he had been working on before referencing texts related to foreign policy and negotiation within his mind. Presently, though there were nine regions on Eden, the number of Kingdoms and Provinces dotting the lands and its surroundings numbered seventeen, excluding the Elven Kingdom and the Iron Hills. Vahn was thinking about gathering the leaders of every major Nation together for a conference of sorts, even though it would be run and moderated at his behest. Since he was going to become an Emperor, these Kingdoms would either have to join his Empire willingly or, much like the other corrupt Nobles he had met, Vahn would depose them.Vahn didn't see any issue with a country being led by a King or Queen but he didn't think it made any sense for the descendants to be the only 'rightful' heirs to the throne. This type of mentality was exactly how you ended up with deeply rooted corruption, as those born into positions of royalty and nobility thought they were 'above' other people, even though they were as normal as everyone else. Since he knew about how reincarnation worked, especially within the context of the record itself, Vahn knew that the very wastrels that lorded themselves over others could have been nothing more than a bandit or a slave in their previous life. The only thing that truly mattered was what you had done to 'earn' the right to rule over people...if you couldn't even meet the basic requirements to govern well, you weren't suited to your title at all.In the future, Vahn would be making it a requirement for all landed Nobles, including Royalty, to have their heirs attend and graduate from both the School and the Academy. Vahn would pass a decree that, unless they have earned the right to be called as such, nobody could claim themselves as inherently more 'Noble' than others. This also served the purpose of preventing said heirs from becoming twisted by politics and infighting from an early age, as they would be required to attend the School in their formative years and continue studying until they were adults. At the same time, the Academy would essentially become one of the most powerful and influential institutions in the entire world. They would be the 'guarantor' that allowed people to have the power and authority to govern over others, giving the Academy and everyone that graduates from it greater prestige.Now, Vahn just needed to come up with a proper setting to gather all of the Continent's leaders, including Asfi's parents, into the same room. Ultimately, Vahn would be forcing them to take a step back and fall under his authority, irrespective of their will. Since the benefits for their Kingdom and their people were inarguably beneficial, their only reasons for doing so would be to retain power for themselves or to try and oppose his policies. Though they had this right, from a certain perspective, Vahn didn't care about their thoughts on the matter since it was 'inevitable' at this point that the entire Continent would be united under his rule.It wouldn't take much effort to expose almost any Kingdom or Noble for their corruption, especially if they have ruled for a long time, so Vahn knew it wouldn't take that much time and effort to shift the perspective of the populous in his favor. Since the policies he intended to enact would greatly improve the living conditions of 'commoners' and 'peasants', Vahn knew they would side with him after experiencing the benefits. Not only would their economy be bolstered, but Vahn intended to make future travel between every country easier, all while improving the quality of life and public order of every City, Township, and Village. He couldn't completely eliminate crime, but there were more than a few methods to discourage heinous and organized crime, at least on the 'surface'...While he was drawing up a template letter that would be sent out to every Kingdom's monarch, Vahn sensed that Loki was making her way towards him. At this point, his domain easily covered the entire Manor so Vahn was able to subconsciously keep track of everyone within. He quickly set aside his work and rose to his feet, giving him ample time to reach the door before Loki, a smile on his face as he opened the door and said, "Good afternoon, Loki...to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Though she could easily manipulate her own aura, Vahn could usually tell if Loki had business to discuss based on various factors, including the basic speed of her movements. Loki wasn't exactly a 'lazy' goddess, but she had a habit of ambling around when she was thinking or had nothing to do. When she had something to take care of, she was usually decisive in her gait and moved at a steady pace, something Vahn was able to track through his domain relatively easily.Loki habitually made her way into the room, unflustered by Vahn's behavior as she made her way over to his padded seat and sat down on the armrest, clearly indicating him to take a seat so she could sit in his lap. When they were alone, Loki almost exclusively sat on Vahn's lap, straddling his hips as she hugged his neck and spoke about what was on her mind. This was something Vahn had grown accustomed to so he had already followed behind Loki, taking his seat and letting her adjust herself as he loosely placed his hands around her hips and asked, "What is it...?" in a soft tone. In response, Loki wiggled her hips playfully before snickering a little as she said, "There are a few things I needed to talk to you about, mostly in regards to Telskyura..."Vahn wasn't really that surprised by Loki's words as he was perfectly aware that she took many actions in the interest of the Alliance, even without conferring with him. It was impossible for him to manage so many moving parts himself so Vahn entrusted those capable of assisting him to arrange matters on his behalf. Because of this, when Loki mentioned Telskyura, Vahn felt more than a little relieved as a smile spread across his face, causing him to hug her body a little tighter as he said, "I've been thinking about them a lot lately. If you have any good news and advice, I would be more than happy to hear it."In response to Vahn hugging her waist tighter, Loki had leaned into his chest, resting her head against his shoulder as she said, "I know you've been struggling with thoughts of how to deal with them for a while now. I've made a few arrangements to help make things easier...though there are also some things I know will trouble you. Sorry about that..." Loki's words were accented by her hot voice tickling Vahn's neck before, punctuating them, she kissed his neck a few times before awaiting his response. Vahn was currently guessing at what Loki could have arranged that would be troubling to deal with. Their conversations generally flowed with Loki making relatively vague claims and talking points, leaving Vahn to 'guess' at what she had come up with. This was a way they could express how well they knew each other and it was something both Vahn and Loki enjoyed...A few things readily came to Vahn's mind, causing him to trace his fingers around the small of her back as he asked, "Does it have something to do with Kali...?" Because Loki shouldn't have any way to influence what was happening in Telskyura, Vahn assumed she had gotten in contact with her fellow goddess instead. When Loki's body tensed up slightly, Vahn knew he had hit the nail on the head, causing him to ask, "Did you come to some kind of agreement...ah...I see...!" Even as he asked, Vahn realized several ways Kali would be able to help deal with the matter of Telskyura at large. She was the most influential goddess in the entire country, giving her inarguably more power than even the Queen, Hippolyta, herself. So long as it didn't go against their established culture and traditions, there were several ways to progress things forward without him having to be the initiator...With this in mind, a small smile appeared on Vahn's face as he asked, "We'll be having a War Games between the Alliance and the Telskyura, correct...?" This time, Loki began to chuckle, clearly amused by the deductions Vahn had made, kissing his neck once more before adjusting her position so she could look him in the eye. Her expression had turned slightly more serious as she explained, "Freya and I negotiated terms with Kali and there will indeed be a battle...however, it will not be between the Alliance and Telskyura. You can take Tiona and Tione along with you, but the fight will ultimately be between you and the seventy-third Queen of Telskyura, Zria Hippolyta. It will be a purely physical fight within their Sacred Coliseum, spectated by the strongest warriors in all Telskyura..."This time, Vahn was a little confused by the situation, as this was one of the potential scenarios they had discussed previously. There were a lot of problems associated with fighting against Telskyura directly as the 'aftermath' would be very difficult to deal with. If he truly defeated Hippolyta in front of her elites, Vahn knew he would become the 'goal' of many of the Amazonesses in the stands and they would likely be breathing down his neck for several years in an attempt to get children from him. However, this 'did' ensure that they would be able to smooth things over in the future, as the upper echelons of Telskyura would have been effectively 'crippled' and unable to conceive under normal circumstances...Vahn frowned slightly, remembering that Loki said there were some 'troubling' things he'd have to deal with. This was indeed a very troubling matter as, even though he 'could' do it, Vahn didn't want to have hundreds of children, especially if he couldn't take care of them. He already struggled with the children he already had, and there were still more already on the way. Shakti would be giving birth in a few months and Vahn had recently gotten both Lunoire and Artemis pregnant as well, the latter intentionally. She 'needed' to return to Heaven in order to avoid having her Arcanum shattered if something happened to her body in the Mortal World. Since it would take a few decades for her to be able to return, they had decided to have a child and raise it to maturity before she returned to Heaven and reformed her avatar.Loki, understanding Vahn's concerns, placed her hand on his cheek as she did her best to put on a gentle and caring look, clarifying, "We already came up with a few ways to prevent the outcome you're thinking of, Vahn. Though there will have to be some exceptions made, you won't have to go out of your way to impregnate a bunch of Amazonesses you don't even know..." Towards the end of her words, the edge of Loki's eyes twitched, catching Vahn's attention as he said, "Tell me..." Though he already had some expectations, Vahn was curious about what kind of agreement Freya and Loki had made with Kali. Because she was one of the 'necessary' components in a lot of his plans, Vahn wouldn't be too surprised if Loki had arranged things on his behalf...Releasing a small sigh, Loki contemplating how best to phrase things but, feeling Vahn's hand rubbing her back, she felt less worried and simply stated, "Kali will migrate to Orario and help in the establishment of the Amazoness community. However, this is predicated on the fact that she wants a child of her own...a Vanir. At the same time, you will need to impregnate Hippolyta, the Captain of her Royal Guard, Myrina King, and one of the Captains of the Kali Familia. I would suggest the younger sister, Bache, as that Argana woman will probably get killed by Tiona or Tione at some point..."Since it was far fewer than the 'hundreds' it could have been, Vahn felt strangely relieved when Loki only mentioned a few names. Even so, Vahn still felt a little uncomfortable with the arrangement since his memories from Tiona's and Tione's [Hearts Desire]s showed Kali as having a very childish figure. Though she was still bigger than Lili, the latter was a Pallum and had fully 'developed' to have a mature, albeit petite, figure. Kali, however, was an Amazoness, the same as the people who had worshipped her for millennia. Though she was well over the age of maturity, and their culture didn't place any emphasis on actual age, only strength, Vahn still felt off-put by the idea of sharing a bed with her. He could vividly remember the somewhat emaciated looking goddess with her blood red hair and extremely revealing outfit...she wasn't the type of goddess he would really want around his children, much less having one...(A/N: Not so fun fact, Kali weighs around 30kg and is around 138cm tall. She is actually much taller than Lili's previous 110cm, but their weight is around the same.)(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Magical Paperwork...','RIP Monarch-sans...','Vahn fears FBI-sama xD')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE

Chapter 930: Looking Forward