Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

While his other four bodies were enjoying their time within the Yokai District, Vahn's 'original' self was high above the clouds, seated atop the massive Leviathan. He had the chibi-esque vessels of Gaia, Alaya, and Tiamat all snuggling up together within his lap, each looking simply adorable as they contentedly enjoyed his petting.Though he could have done it anywhere, Vahn felt as though his mind was always clearer when he sat atop the Leviathan. There was something about the 'impossibly' large creature, combined with the overview of the world below, that allowed him to better reflect on his actions. Here, he felt as if, for a brief moment, he was detached from the rest of the world, much like a god looking down on a world of their own creation.In truth, there were a number of reasons behind Vahn's decision to sit atop the Levithan. The main one, however, was simply to experience a shift in perspective. As for why he felt this was necessary, it was due to the sapphire blue orb that existed only in his perception. This was the form his Map had taken after subordinating Gaia, the grossest representation of his current authority.Vahn's Map Function not only allowed him to map the surrounding terrain, but, if it was a territory owned by himself or his subordinates, he could mark and track enemies, teleport allies, and, most importantly, 'search' for anything within the boundaries of his dominion. So long as it was within the bounds of his dominion, he could find any person, animal, plant, or mineral with a simple thought. It was an inviolable power, which, when combined with his ability to freely move his intent, provided a level of clairvoyance that even Tier 5 beings like Alaya couldn't match.The best thing about the current situation was that, as the planet itself, Gaia's subordination allowed him to view, not just the Surface, but the Reverse Side as well. In fact, he could view all Textures, not just those people were familiar with. This not only included secret locations, such as the Wandering Sea, but, far more importantly, it even displayed completely isolated regions, most notably Avalon and the 'Heart of the World'.In total, there were more than a hundred sub-textures, some of which had greater dimensions than the entire surface area of the planet. This fact wasn't too surprising, as Vahn had already known this to be the case; however, there was a drastic difference between imagining something and seeing it for yourself. There was even a world where every piece of land floated high atop the clouds, and, no matter how far he sent his intent, Vahn never found anything 'below' them. It was like an endless and eternal sky, a world where people relied on majestic airships and flying mounts to move between sky islands, some the size of continents...Unfortunately, despite a keen interest in each of these unique Textures and Realms, trying to search through them manually would take, quite literally, thousands of years. The 'interior' of Gaia was like a small universe, something very few people could even imagine. However, with dozens of [Spirit-Time Orb]s, [Time-Space Orb]s, and Da Vinci's many creations, Vahn wasn't all that surprised. There didn't seem to be an upper limit to the number of Dimensions and Sub-Dimensions that could occupy a single point in Space and Time. The Projection of Avalon was a good example of this, but, compared to the Root System, which denoted entire universes as 'single' points, even it paled in comparison.Though he intended to explore quite a bit in the future, Vahn's current objectives included marking known threats, such as the surviving Dead Apostle Ancestors, and any potentially dangerous entities, chiefly the various Gods that were expected to cause trouble in the future.Using the search function, Vahn was able to identify the location of his targets no matter how distant or isolated they were. He could even spy on them directly, allowing him to store their appearances in his memory, compiling a profile for each of his future opponents.Ultimately, phase two of Vahn's plan included eliminating threats before the convergence could take place. Before that, however, phase one included recruiting various allies, not as Heroic Spirits, but by visiting them in person. He would reason with those who were willing to listen, liberating them from the prisons they had been trapped in for eons. As for those who wished to contend against him, they would suffer a tragic fate in order to ensure the success of phases three and four...With this in mind, Vahn finished marking a few thousand different threats before using the search function, this time to locate Amaterasu. He had a preexisting agreement with her, and, now that her Bunrei had been able to experience the true nature of the Empire, he was hoping she would be one of his first allies. He was even prepared to negotiate directly with Type: Sol, arranging for Amaterasu to become a 'True God' by strengthening her Divine Authority...Immediately after confirming Amaterasu as his search, Vahn saw his map update, zooming in on a massive temple that was completely isolated from other Sub-Textures. It was a place that existed outside of Time and Space, but, due to the fact it still resided on the 'Reverse Side', Vahn was able to pinpoint the location without incident. Then, by guiding his intent, he was able to probe the interior of the temple, finding the familiar figure of Amaterasu in a statuesque state.Seemingly in response to his intent, Amaterasu's eyes began to blaze like small suns as time around her quickly adapted to the rate at which Vahn's flowed. Then, as if she could 'see' him, she turned her attention towards the point in space where his intent was located, her eyes squinting in amusement as she muttered, "My, aren't you full of surprises...?"Though he was not physically within Amaterasu's isolated Sub-Texture, Vahn had learned how to speak through his intent even back in Danmachi. Thus, without having to teleport into her dominion, he answered, "If it is something I have set my mind to, there is nothing that can prevent me from fulfilling a promise. The last time we met, I promised to liberate you from this prison, allowing you to return to the Surface. All I require in exchange is your word as a Goddess. So long as you obey the Common Law, you will be free to live as you please."Hearing Vahn's words, Amaterasu squinted her eyes even further, her nine, fiery, tails gently swaying behind her as she seemed to contemplate his offer. As a Goddess of the Sun, her dignity demanded that she repay favors and debts without fail. Being indebted to another was the same as lowering her status, so, even if Vahn didn't demand payment, she 'had' to give him something. The problem was, he was granting her freedom from an eternal prison, forcing an unpayable debt unto her shoulders...While she couldn't see his face, Amaterasu knew Vahn wasn't proactively trying to take advantage of the laws and restrictions imposed upon Gods. This was even more troublesome, however, as sincerity was like compounding interest when it came to the repayment of debts. If she accepted his offer, she would be compelled to repay her debt, trapped within an endless cycle by her own pride. In a way, it was like replacing one prison with another, exchanging walls for chains formed from obligation...After a relatively short period of time, Amaterasu nodded her head slightly, stating, "We will obey the conditions you have set. In exchange, you must erect a shrine for us within your home. Gods require the acknowledgment of sapient organisms as a form of sustenance. Oftentimes, quality is far greater than quantity. If you will not allow us to govern your world, you must enshrine as the Guardian Deity of your House. In exchange for offerings from your descendants, we will protect your Empire and its people until the final setting of the sun..."Though Amaterasu's remark matched his expectations, Vahn couldn't help but internalize a sigh. He couldn't help but feel a little guilty, as, from the very beginning, he 'knew' things would proceed in a similar manner. This didn't diminish the sincerity in his words, however, as he had every intention of allowing her to live freely. Unfortunately, much like Alaya and Gaia, she would bound by certain laws and restrictions, compelling her to think and act in a certain way. In the future, he would liberate her from this compulsion, but, for the time being, the best thing he could do for all of them was rely on her power.Without having to put too much thought into it, Vahn expanded his domain using his 'intent' as the origin point. He had already prepared for Amaterasu's response, filling a massive sakazuki cup with the same 'sake' he had provided her last time. It was a potent elixir that had a sizeable quantity of his blood mixed into it, enhancing the flavor and potency to a level that would cause even the greatest God of Wine to experience an existential crisis.Seeing the familiar rainbow-hued liquid, Amaterasu made no attempt to hide her appreciation for the offering, gulping audibly as she fixed her posture. She had been laying down all the other times he saw her, so, seeing Amaterasu sitting properly, Vahn felt exceptionally small in comparison. Her standing height was close to 50m, bringing her pretty close to 28m when sitting in seiza. This gave her an equivalent stature to a nine-story building, an overwhelming sight that was greatly amplified by Amaterasu's flawless features...For a brief moment, Vahn felt like he had been caught watching the sunrise, only coming to his senses when Amaterasu brought cup to her lips and slowly savored its contents. At the same time, he heard a notification sound within his mind, indicating her intent to become his Subordinate. This was a little awkward, but, as it also coincided with expectations, Vahn accepted it without hesitation.It would be very difficult, if not impossible, for him to free her without subordinating her first. Now, however, he could teleport her directly to the Surface using his Map Function and Unit Management. It was an unbelievably powerful combination of system functions, and, in the future, it is what would allow him, and others, to freely trespass other Textures. This was a grand irony, in a way, as so many people were quick to claim ownership of land and territory, ignoring the simple fact that the planet had been around for billions of years before their selfishness determined such a thing.Vahn would never understand what compelled people to believe they 'owned' anything they didn't build themselves. Even the concept of most governments didn't make sense to him, as, in the grand scheme of things, it was 'ridiculous' to claim sovereignty over anything but yourself. Nobody had an 'inherent' right to anything they did not expressly obtain through their own efforts. If people could accept this, respecting the worlds which granted them life, things like corruption, pollution, and war would cease to be. Instead, they pursue personal interests, consolidate wealth, and suppress others for entirely contrived reasons; actions which ultimately result in the collapse of entire civilizations.In the end, Vahn wasn't conceited enough to believe that his method was the 'best' solution. Rather, he fully expected to make mistakes along his path towards the brink of Eternity. However, no matter how far he strayed from his original intentions, there were certain things he refused to compromise on. He would never ignore the suppression of people for arbitrary reasons such as race and gender. He would also do everything in his power to ensure all people, regardless of their origin, were given the right to succeed. Everyone deserved happiness, and, no matter the circumstances of their birth, children had an intrinsic right to be protected. It didn't matter what their parents or family had done, he would never allow a child to suffer for the sins of their ancestors. Even the concept of 'inherited' sin made him sick to his stomach...Finished with her sake, Amaterasu released a hot breath before remarking, "How peculiar...to think this sake can even burn my, a Goddess of the Sun's, throat...fuuuu...."Awakened from his train of thought, Vahn 'looked' up at Amaterasu, explaining, "Since you enjoy it so much, I'll make sure you have an ample supply once your shrine is completed. Now, I'm going to transfer you to the Surface. Before that, you need to adjust your size. Your current form is certainly majestic, but it will cause a few problems if you want to roam freely..."Hearing Vahn's words, Amaterasu smiled teasingly before saying, "A simple matter," as her body began to rapidly shrink. However, this was 'only' her body, so, after a few awkward seconds, a much smaller Amaterasu emerged from her discarded clothes, her 'full glory' on display. Then, despite it being little more than an excuse, her smile became even wider as she explained, "We can sense it, the change in status between us. From now on, you have the responsibility of our Master, even if you refuse the title. You will need to provide for us, and, in exchange, we will give all of ourselves to you."While others might be awed by the sight before them, Vahn wasn't exactly surprised. He expected something like this to happen from the moment he first met Amaterasu when she was in possession of Tamamo. The Bunrei of a Goddess would have inherited many of its traits, including a baseline for their personality. Since Kitsunes were rather famous in Japan for ingratiating themselves to others, often serving as guardians, friends, lovers, and wives, Amaterasu wasn't an exception. Rather, as the nature of a God could be shaped by the beliefs of their followers, Amaterasu's nature as a vulpine woman as an order of magnitude greater than that of Tamamo and Suzuka. She had even tried to 'force' him to marry her Bunrei the moment they met, and, during their encounter, every single one of her actions possessed a certain seductive quality...After briefly admiring the sight before him, Vahn surprised Amaterasu quite a bit when he suddenly transferred her to the top of the Leviathan. She obviously hadn't expected such an 'instantaneous' transfer, but, as could be expected from a Tier 5 entity, she quickly recovered, her smile becoming even more seductive when she saw Vahn's actual body. However, immediately after that, her eyes landed on Gaia, Alaya, and Tiamat, freezing her in place before she could take a single step.Though Amaterasu was a Goddess of the Sun, she, like other Gods of her nature, was contracted to the planet she resided on. Thus, Gaia's and Alaya's authority, at least within the Planetary Bounded Field, was higher than her own. The fact they were both curled up in the lap of the man she had just pledged herself to caused her heart to begin beating rapidly, her thoughts racing to make sense of the current situation.Understanding Amaterasu's confusion, Vahn offered a polite smile before pulling out a high-quality kimono for her to wear. He knew she had the ability to manifest a raiment, but, at least for the time being, he intended to humor her. Though he would eventually have to inform her of the fact he was already married to a different Amaterasu, giving him strong apprehensions about accepting her as a lover, that could wait until later. For now, he intended to get her up to speed on everything that had happened during his stay within the Nasuverse. From there, they would discuss his future plans, and, once everything was said and done, his plan would officially be set in motion...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn be like, "Welcome to 'my' world..."','Baited and outsmarted','Imagine Amaterasu's face when she sees her loli counterpart xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

After a lengthy exchange of information, Amaterasu was up to speed on everything pertinent to his background. She was expectedly surprised to learn he came from 'Outside', giving her a new perspective, one which made him 'infinitely' more tantalizing a prize than before. Fortunately, she seemed somewhat spooked by the existence of Alaya, Gaia, and Tiamat, so, even if she became a little more aggressive, Vahn didn't have to worry about her trying to reverse their status. Instead, it seemed like she was happier than before, almost as if the revelation of his origin had removed a great burden on her heart.During the conversation, Vahn also learned the method for contracting Sol. It required a certain ritual to be performed during a total solar eclipse, as, even with her Divine Authority derived from the sun itself, Amaterasu had no way to actually approach it. Even the most powerful Gods of the Sun were just fragments cast off by Sol in the distant past, small pieces of its Divine Authority that were given form after establishing a contract with the planets they were meant to govern.In exchange for the right to govern all life on the planet's surface, Gods of the Sun were tasked with protecting the planet from external threats. Unfortunately, at least in Amaterasu's case, the 'corruption of humanity' was a factor that couldn't be accounted for. Unlike other species, which were generally very subservient to their creator's, humanity had been an outlier species since the very beginning.According to Amaterasu, she had once been nothing more than a miniature sun, lacking even a name, much less a physical appearance. Then, one day, much to her surprise, she suddenly found herself enshrined within a temple that was meant to worship her. From that moment onwards, the nature of her existence began to slowly change. She was no longer simply worshipped as the Sun itself, but, due to the opportunistic nature of humanity, she became bound to the original lineage of Japanese Emperors. Her power had been so weakened at the time that she was forced to bear the child of her would-be High Priest, a greedy and licentious man who used their offspring as a political tool to conquer all of Japan.Needless to say, Amaterasu quickly grew tired of the way humanity mistreated her. Even her form had been grossly influenced by their desires, changing her from a woman with elegant features to one more befitting of a 'pet'. This gradually increased her hatred for humanity, but, with no way to resist their corrupt beliefs, she had little choice but to become an 'obedient' pet. It was only after Velber's attack that she was given the opportunity to break free, but, as a result of her attempt to 'abandon' the planet, she was punished by being sealed inside of it, forced to share Gaia's fate...After hearing Amaterasu's account of events, verified by both Alaya and Gaia, Vahn couldn't help but feel sorry for her. Though he understood the need for a system of control, he felt it was a little ridiculous for beings like Gaia, Tiamat, and Amaterasu to be subjected to suffering at the hands of much weaker entities. They were basically forced to serve their purpose, and, no matter how that purpose was perverted by others, they had no means to resist it. Amaterasu was even imprisoned outside of the Time Axis just because she wanted to break free, forcibly labeled as one of the Evils of Man, accused of being a representation of the very greed that had bound the Goddess against her will...As she could somewhat understand the thoughts going through Vahn's mind, Amaterasu couldn't help but smile seeing the concern visible in his eyes. It made her feel greatly vindicated, both as a result of kindness and the fact that he wasn't from their world. Him being from the Outside was far beyond expectation, making her feel as though she had won some kind of lottery even before he explained his designation as Type Omega. When she learned that he even had Authority over Sol itself, Amaterasu had to restrain her urge to just push him down then and there, her tails flickering like flames due to her excitement.Vahn wasn't unaware of Amaterasu's impassioned state. Rather, he would need to be incredibly dense not to understand her intentions when she was leaning forward with a hungry look in her eyes. If not for the 'protection 'provided by Alaya, Gaia, and Tiamat, he had very little doubt she would have already pounced on him. Her nature had been twisted by humanity to such an extent that she had very little control over her actions. This made her a living embodiment of greed, and, if not for the restrictions placed upon her, there was little that could stop her from 'taking' what she wanted.Truthfully, Vahn felt a considerable amount of empathy towards Amaterasu's plight, so, while he had a fair amount of resistance to involving himself with Goddesses that shared similar origins to his existing wives, he was already considering making an exception. He could easily imagine 'his' Amaterasu rebuking him if he shunned the vulpine Goddess' affections, so, with the Nasuverse's Amaterasu being intrinsic to his plans, Vahn had very little resistance against her.After forming his resolve on the matter, Vahn surprised Amaterasu quite a bit by stating, "You may find it hard to believe, but I fully intend to free you from the burdens and restrictions that currently bind your actions. When the time comes, should you still desire a union, I will not refuse you. Until then, I must ask for your patience. My empathy makes me susceptible to the wants and desires of others, but my guilt makes it difficult for me to accept those who cannot refuse me. Though it may not be much of a consolation, know that these three are in a similar situation..."Following Vahn's gaze, Amaterasu saw the three relatively adorable creatures snuggling together in his lap. She felt a strong urge to retort his statement, but, before the words could reach her lips, various other thoughts forming in her mind. There were a number of ways to gradually lower his defenses, so, while she felt relieved by his promise of 'freedom', Amaterasu felt like it would be a fun challenge to try and win his affections before then. She would have to be a little sneaky about it, but, with her Bunrei already in Vahn's favor, the most difficult step had already been taken care of...Vahn didn't miss the mischievous glimmer in Amaterasu's eye, but, feeling she deserved to be a little selfish, he opted to ignore it. He had already made up his mind on the matter, so, regardless of what happened, the only real outcome would be an acceleration of his plans. Once Phase Four had been completed, the restrictions binding beings like her, Alaya, and Gaia would be removed, so, in the grand scheme of things, her mischief would just fuel him to work harder...---At the exact same moment as Amaterasu's transfer to the Surface, Tamamo's ears perked up as her tails became ramrod straight. She had been in the middle of a match to determine who was going to sit in Vahn's lap for the next ten minutes, so, with her body tensing up, Altria mercilessly cut her character down. It was only after the victory screen came up that Tamamo came back to her senses, her eyes widening as she shouted, "Ah! No fair! I want a rematch...!"Before Tamamo had even finished her outburst, Altria had 'pounced' onto Vahn's lap, her back leaning against his chest as she shot a victory sign towards the disgruntled kitsune. This caused Tamamo to tear up slightly, but, without her needing to protest further, Vahn brought a smile to her face as he said, "Altria, go ahead and give her a rematch. She froze up because of something I did so it really isn't fair to decide things like this."Hearing Vahn's words, Altria issued a light 'hmm', seemingly considering his words. At the same time, however, she imperceptibly wiggled her hips, her soft butt grinding against him, almost as if to convince him to take her side.Feeling the soft sensation pressing against his lower body, Vahn felt somewhat helpless. He knew Altria spent 99% of her time cooped up inside so he didn't know where she was learning how to tempt him like this. He imagined she had picked up a few things while diving in the Virtual World, but, as she only ever entered with other people, it didn't seem likely. The only reasonable answer was that she was learning it from either Tamamo or Suzuka. However, considering the nature of both women, this was equally hard to believe...As Altria's actions became increasingly more obvious, realization donned upon Vahn as he saw the expressions of Tamamo, Tomoe, and X. He could also feel Altria becoming emboldened, so, without having to consider it further, Vahn realized that the primary 'culprit' was himself. She had learned from observing his interactions with others, and, due to his 'tolerance', her curiosity was all she needed to justify her actions.Before things could develop any further, Vahn, somewhat shamelessly, offered, "How about this. Altria can sit in my lap while the two of you have a rematch. If she wins, she will get to stay for the remainder of her time. If she loses, Tamamo will get to sit on my lap for half an hour...sound fair?"Instantly realizing things were less favorable for herself, Altria furrowed her brows slightly, stating, "Unfair. Favoritism. Shameless."Though there was certainly some truth to Altria's complaints, Vahn reminded, "Tamamo is one of my wives. Technically speaking, she is the only one in the room that has the right to sit in my lap..."As if she only just remember her marriage to Vahn, Tamamo immediately puffed out her chest in pride, a cheeky grin on her face as she exclaimed, "That's right! That's right~! I'm nice enough to let you sit on my husband's lap, the least you can do is accept a fair match! If not, I might just keep him for myself in the future~?"Compared to how elegant and respectful she was in the past, the current Tamamo had become a little 'uninhibited'. While this wasn't necessarily a bad thing, as she was clearly happier sharing a room with the three girls, it was still a startling contrast from her courtly behavior in the past...Seemingly fired up by Tamamo's words, Altria showed an uncharacteristically serious expression as she stated, "I will not lose..." before picking up her controller. This caused the 'fire' in Tamamo's eyes to blaze in equal measure, so, after a brief setup period, their rematch began in earnest.Generally speaking, Altria made a concerted effort to move as little as possible throughout the day. She was, inarguably, one of the laziest people in the entirety of Avalon, at times spending the entire day just laying in bed watching anime. It took a concerted effort to get her to do anything, often involving the promise of food and sweets just to earn her attention.Now, as if her past self was just a facade, Altria was leaning forward slightly, placing her full weight on Vahn's lap as she aggressively controlled her on-screen character. This was her aptly-named 'serious mode', something she typically reserved for life and death battles or contests involving her favorite foods. She didn't even seem to notice that she was grinding against a very sensitive part of his body, and, if not for Vahn's control, a 'catastrophe' might have occurred...Needless to say, Altria ended up securing victory, showing an uncharacteristic amount of hubris as she boldly stated, "If I get serious, you aren't my opponent."Hearing Altria's remark, Tamamo ground her teeth in frustration, her expression one of textbook vexation. Then, like a gambler on a losing streak, she shouted, "You hateful vixen! I want another rematch! Best-of-three! Winner takes all!"As if tonight was the night she decided to practice her expressions, Altria adopted a look that could only be described as haughty, saying, "Don't say things you'll end up regretting. If you lose, you'll have to grind your teeth all evening. I'm afraid you'll be nothing but gums by the time Vahn has to return..."Tamamo, as could be expected, took exception to Altria's remark. Before she could actually do something she might regret, however, Vahn interceded, saying, "Don't try to bait her into a trap, Altria. As for you, Tamamo, don't let your pride and vanity blind you. I don't mind humoring these little games, but I'm not a prize to be won and exchanged freely. I visit your room to relax and cut loose, not watch the two of you gamble away your friendship."Like a deflated balloon, Tamamo's body slouched slightly, her tails and ears drooping somewhat pathetically as she muttered, "I'm sorry...". As for Altria, she seemed to realize she had gone too far, adding, "I am also in the wrong..." before rising from Vahn's lap. This would have been a fine way to end things, but, seemingly without any common sense, Altria than pat-down Vahn's lap for a few seconds before offering it for Tamamo's use...---With their evening exploration complete, the children had returned to the Enma-tei, finding the peculiar ryokan just as interesting as the outside world. The girls, in particular, enjoyed the open-air onsen while the boys, the sounds of their playing echoing through the night as Vahn, flanked by his two sons, enjoyed the crisp evening air. They had the men's bath completely to themselves, so, after teaching them the proper etiquette, all three were relaxing in the emerald-green water with cool towels on their heads.Since it was a good opportunity, Vahn decided to ask Daiki how the evening with his sisters had gone. In response, his son, very politely, recounted everything from the moment they entered the Yokai District to the moment they arrived at the Enma-tei. His tone made it seem like he wasn't interested in anything that happened, but, despite this, Vahn could tell he enjoyed exploring the lantern-lit district. He just forced himself to behave in a mature manner due to the fact his sisters appeared so much older than him.Vahn often felt guilty about Daiki's 'predicament', but, as his son also seemed genuinely happy to be doted on, he allowed matters to take their course. Even Rin had slowly come to terms with the fact that Daiki would likely end up with Isanna and Naavi, so, at this point, the best Vahn could do was properly educate them, expressing tolerance while encouraging restraint. He knew it would cause even more problems if he tried to drive them apart, so, rather than drive a wedge between them, he would support their choice. They might have shared the same womb, but, as Da Vinci's test had proven, they weren't actually related by blood. Rather, Isanna and Naavi, as Vanir, had no genetic material whatsoever...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'TFW humans are so egotistical they label a Goddess as an 'Evil of Man'','X is just watching from the side with a deadpan expression...','Poor Daiki xD...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though the night wasn't completely without incident, the children were able to enjoy exploring the Yokai District without obstruction. Rather, the majority of Yokai they encountered, while mischievous, were also very polite and helpful. They happily explained away the children's curiosities, performing a few small tricks in exchange for small, bean-sized, nuggets of gold. There was even a point where a large crowd of Yokai had gathered, happily staging an impromptu circus for the trio of Isanna, Naavi, and Daiki.Ironically, the only group that encountered any real trouble was the one Vahn was in, Kamiya's. The boy had been emboldened by his Father's words, and, though he didn't proactively seek trouble, he wanted to explore all the regions that seemed 'off-limits'. As a result, they ventured onto a lantern-lit path that encircled the mountain containing Ibaraki's villa, a place that was usually left empty due to the fact she spent the majority of her time following Shuten.Compared to other territories within the Yokai District, Ibaraki's was poorly maintained by design. It was also one of the few areas where monsters could be found, a matter that was largely ignored to allow Yokai with more predatory instincts to hunt fresh prey. As a result, it was possible to find a few dangerous entities walking around, but, despite the warning of several kindly Yokai along the way, Kamiya had 'fearlessly' chosen to enter the jungle-like region.As he had already promised to allow Kamiya to lead the way, Vahn chose not to outright discourage his son's behavior. Courage and curiosity were the traits of the adventurous, and, though it was still a little too early to allow him to explore freely, Kamiya was actually 'very' strong for his age. Nobunaga and Mordred had been rearing him as a 'strong man' since before he could even speak, and, with an 'arch-rival' like Daiki, they had both grown at an exceptional rate. It was because of this that, when a medium-sized, wolf-like, monster appeared, Vahn watched patiently as his son forcibly restrained the trembling of his body...From the perspective of the 'wolf', it couldn't even detect Vahn's presence. The latter had completely melded his aura with the surroundings, so, while he was still visible, his lack of presence allowed him to move freely without triggering barriers or alerting otherwise skittish animals. He was even able to fool Isanna's perception, spying on her whenever she would sneak out of the castle to frolic amongst her forest companions.Emboldened by the fact his enemy was just a 'child', the wolf showed no sign of fear as it began to slowly circle Kamiya, steamy vapor erupting from its maw with each heated breath. This was enough to terrify even the average adult, but, undaunted, Kamiya held a black Bokken in his hand, while, on his chest, a green rune, shaped similarly to a four-armed monkey, could be seen shining. If he was in any actual danger, the Four-Armed Adamant Ape would immediately emerge, giving the wolf-like monster more than a simple fright.After circling to Kamiya's flank, the wolf waited until the boy moved to change his position, its eyes glimmering with murderous intent as it pounced toward him. This caused Kamiya to tense up for a brief moment, but, as if guided by an unseen force, his body dutifully obeyed his original intent. This brought a large smile to Vahn's face, as, from his perspective, he could see the trajectory of Kamiya's attacks before he even moved. This was exactly the same phenomenon he witnessed when someone like Bell or Artoria fought, their powerful fate helping to guide them to victory.With movements greatly exceeding those expected of a child, Kamiya was able to evade the wolf's leap with a side-step, sweeping his bokken across the bridge of its nose. This startled the aggressive creature quite a bit, but, as it hadn't taken much damage, it just shook its head a few times before snarling at the heaving youth. This was Kamiya's first actual battle, so, despite having participated in several spars, his heart was beating like a drum due to the surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins.Due to his panicked state, Kamiya made the novice mistake of taking his eyes off his opponent, his ruby-red irises flickering toward the direction of his father for a brief moment. The presence of the latter allowed him to relax more than he should of, creating a gap in his mentality that left him wide open as the wolf lunged a second time.Unable to evade in time, Kamiya brought his bokken up to protect his body, intercepting the maw of the wolf as it tackled him to the ground. He could feel its sharp nails begin to press into his skin, but, due to the protection of the Four-Armed Adamant Ape, his flesh became even harder than steel. This didn't immediately click for Kamiya, however, as he was more focused on the vicious maw of canine teeth that was intent on ripping out his throat.Just as it seemed like the wolf would have some success, its body was jerked backward in an instant, leaving Kamiya both scared and confused as he continued to pant on the ground. It was only after a few seconds had passed that he noticed his father holding the now-obedient wolf by the scruff of its neck. It didn't even try to break free, its body becoming statuesque as its tail curled between its legs.Before Kamiya could do anything like apologize, Vahn gave an approving nod, saying, "You did well for your first real battle. Though you made a mistake towards the end, most people can't even keep their senses when facing a monster for the first time. Here, I want to show you something..."Following his words, Vahn 'gently' tossed the wolf to the side, causing it to roll and slide for a few meters before it managed to recover enough to bolt off into the woods. He didn't blame it for just following its instincts, so, knowing it would meet its end at the hand of a hungry Yokai, Vahn saw no reason to dirty his own hands. It was better for Kamiya to think there was still danger in the woods, keeping him on his toes for the remainder of their little adventure.After half-forcing Kamiya to sit in his lap, Vahn pulled out one of his oldest [Memory Orb]s, the one showing his first encounter with a Goblin. He was not ashamed to reveal his moments of weakness to his children. While he enjoyed their borderline deification of him, it was more important to teach them the importance of effort and growth. They needed to know that, while some were born strong, only those who made a sincere effort would be able to reach the peak...---While his other three bodies were attending various affairs, Vahn's fourth body was having a fun time within the rather lively kitchen of the Enma-tei. There were dozens of chubby sparrow yokai flittering about with tiny aprons wrapped around them, and, though she had threatened to hit him with a ladle, Vahn couldn't help but smile when he saw Benienma tip-toeing on a stool just to be able to reach the countertop. He was tempted to ask why she didn't either change the size of her body or construct lower countertops, but, as she was surprisingly defensive about her stature, he primarily focused on preparing ingredients alongside none other than Medusa.Using her hair like additional hands, Medusa was able to handle a variety of different tasks all at once. Once, in the distant past, Vahn had even joked about her learning how to wield dozens of swords all at once. She had taken this a little too seriously, and, as a result, she had learned how to use knives and swords with a surprising amount of finesse. Now, she could cut several ingredients all at once, leaving Vahn to wash and process them.Originally, Vahn had been intending to help cook, but, the moment he offered, Benienma reacted as if he had plucked out her tail feathers. It took several others convincing her before he was allowed to step into the kitchen, the so-called 'women's battlefield'. Unfortunately, he was only allowed to help prepare the ingredients, while, at their respective stations, Benienma, Circe, and Medea, all wearing rather adorable aprons, seemed to be engaged in a rather intense competition.Circe and Benienma both had Innates related to cooking, and, though they recognized each other's skill, both claimed themselves the superior chef. As for Medea, she had learned a fair amount from her Aunt, and, while her cooking couldn't compare to the two 'monsters', her meals gave everyone the impression of 'home cooking'. The flavor might not be the best, but you could tase the amount of care she put into each dish. This earned her a significant amount of praise from virtually everyone who had sampled her cooking, including Circe and Benienma. In fact, after tasting Medea's cooking for the first time, Benienma asked the former to become her apprentice, claiming she had what it took to be her successor...Medea, as could be expected, refused Benienma's offer, but, at least once a month, she would stay at the Enma-tei for a few days to learn more about cooking, cleaning, and attending others. Vahn knew the reason for this, but, out of consideration for the person in question, he pretended to be unaware. Instead, whenever Medea would randomly ask him to sample her new dishes, Vahn would savor each and every bite, enjoying the presence of the devoted young woman, who, with the passage of time, had blossomed into adulthood.Though she was still somewhat petite, the current Medea had grown from her original height, just under 149cm, to her present height, 160cm. She still had a very youthful expression and soft layer of subcutaneous 'baby fat', but, compared to her delicate physique from before, Medea's femininity was in full bloom. She had matured considerably, doing away with cute, fairy-like, clothing in lieu of elegant gowns and dresses. She had even let her hair down, discarding her ponytail and allowing her silky hair to fall gracefully around her shoulders.At this point, the only thing preventing Vahn from 'pushing' Medea down was the fact she seemed intent on becoming a 'perfect wife'. As a result, she had become the understudy of Circe, Tamamo, Benienma, Fenrir, and, most concernedly, Nero. They had been teaching her their various specialties, cultivating her into a motherly woman that, for a variety of reasons, actually terrified Vahn. It was like they were grooming her into an 'ultimate weapon' to use against him, and, due to his unwillingness to undermine her efforts, Vahn was powerless to prevent her 'evolution'...Due to controlling five bodies at once, Vahn's awareness was a little lacking compared to normal. As a result, he had completely missed the fact Medusa called out to him. It was only when a section of her hair morphed into an admittedly cute white snake, its tongue tickling his ear, that he noticed she was trying to get his attention. Her pouting expression inadvertently caused him to smile, earning him a few small pricks from her hair-formed snakes in protest...Though not to the extent of Medea, Medusa had also matured quite a bit compared to her past self. She was now around 158cm tall, and, though the development was slow, she had started to develop in the places expected of a mature woman. The most notable changes could be seen in her butt and thighs, but, compared to her previously 'nonexistent' breasts, her borderline B-Cups were a marked improvement.Curiously, Medusa had stopped proactively molting by the time her appearance reached its 'late teens'. She could have continued until she became a buxom beauty, but, for reasons she had never vocalized, Medusa stunted her own growth. More surprisingly, however, was the fact that, despite looking forward to it in the past, Medusa had never had sex with him. She was always present when he got intimate with other women in the Menagerie, but, other than heavy petting and a few acts of service, they never went all the way.In the past, Vahn had tried to ascertain what had changed, but, much to his surprise, Medusa had refused to explain her intentions. Instead, she simply stated she was 'waiting' for something, leaving him to guess the meaning behind her words.At the time, Vahn had been somewhat concerned about Medusa's behavior, but, with a Loyalty value exceeding three-million, he knew she wasn't conspiring against him. Rather, similar to Fenrir, she was one of his most loyal companions, someone who had vowed to walk alongside him until the ends of Eternity. She was also 'very' clingy when they were together, and, though they had never had sex, the number of intimate moments they shared made her feelings transparently clear.Since he wanted to respect her intentions, Vahn hadn't pressed Medusa to reveal her intentions. He wanted his Subordinates to have a certain level of independence, so, while he could have 'ordered' her to reveal the truth, doing so would be a grievous breach of trust. If he tried to force her, it would be a betrayal of everything he believed in, and, while Medusa would 'undoubtedly' forgive him, there would be a drastic and irreversible shift in the dynamic between them...Though she couldn't know her Master's thoughts, Medusa could sense that he was thinking about her. This made her feel somewhat giddy, bringing a small smile to her face as she pretended not to notice. Her hair, however, was surprisingly disobedient at times like this, so, against her will, several tiny snakes had formed, each planting tiny kisses on her Master, eliciting a light chuckle in response. This caused her face to flush slightly, while, in Vahn's mind, he commented, ("How could I not trust such an adorable creature...?")(A/N: Alternate Titles: '*Casually picks up monster wolf by the scruff*','Medea's bridal training','The sneakiest of sneks is also the most adorable')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1508: Authority