Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

While relaxing in a steamy bath of emerald-green water, Vahn reclined with his arm hooked around the shoulders of Nobunaga, absentmindedly massaging her breasts as she leaned against him with a somewhat lascivious expression. At the same time, his right hand danced about whimsically, shaping the water of the onsen into the form of a serpentine dragon.Though he no longer had something as convenient as Essence to aid him, Vahn had reached a level of mastery that allowed him to freely manipulate the elements within his domain. This required an intense level of focus, making it difficult to use in battle, but it was perfect for relaxed moments like this. After all, there was something mesmerizing about watching a glimmering, emerald-green, wyrm dance about above the surface of an onsen, lit only by the moonlight above and various candles in the surroundings.Once he had the shape the way he wanted it, Vahn took a slow and steady breath before closing his hand, gradually forming the shape of a fist. In accordance with his will, the nine-meter-long serpent began to shimmer, its body gaining an ephemeral solidity that was reminiscent of the phenomenon of surface tension.After several tense moments, Vahn released his held breath, forcing the steam from the surrounding onsen to clear away in an instant. Then, retracting his hand, he smiled as the serpentine dragon was able to keep its form, coiling above the surface of the onsen as if it were solid ground. It no longer required his direct control, moving according to an intent-based program that allowed it to function with a similar capacity to a golden retriever.As this wasn't the first time he had done something similar, Nobunaga lightly slapped the surface of the water, making small splashes that seemed to alert the confused serpent. It turned its eyes toward her, gazing with transparent green orbs as it recoiled back slightly, emulating the sort of trepidation you would expect from an abandoned stray. It was only when Nobunaga stated, "Come on...I'm not going to hurt you~." that the serpent began to hesitantly approach, snaking across the surface of the onsen without breaking the surface tension.Vahn watched with bated breath as his creation approached within arm's length of both Nobunaga and himself. It allowed her to gingerly place her hand upon its snout, freezing in place for several seconds before tentatively nuzzling against the palm of her hand. This caused the edges of Vahn's smile to curl up slightly, but, as if to spite him, a 'ripple' spread across the surface of the serpentine dragon. Immediately thereafter, it burst apart like a bubbling, spilling forth its mineral-rich contents and causing Nobunaga to release a somewhat grating peal of sonorous laughter...Rolling his eyes, Vahn lightly pinched her exposed nipple, forcing her laughter to cease, replaced by a rather adorable groan as her body trembled. This earned him a punch to the chest, but, unless he proactively allowed himself to take damage, Vahn was immune to any attacks beneath the A-Rank. As a result, he released a light chuckle instead of a pained groan, lifting the glowering Nobunaga's face to steal her lips. Though this resulted in her lightly biting his tongue, seemingly intent to draw blood, Vahn had long-since grown used to her antics...---After a brief stint of 'fun' within the onsen, Vahn and Nobunaga emerged from the changing room with contented smiles, arms linked. They were both attired in loose-fitting yukata, allowing steam to rise from the exposed bits of flesh that had soaked a little too long in the startlingly hot waters. This resulted in Nobunaga's skin practically glowing, a ruddy blush visible on each exposed bit, including her near-crimson face.Though they had happy smiles at first, Vahn's expression became somewhat awkward, as, waiting for them on the outside of the changing room was a rather 'ruffled-looking' Benienma. She had a habit of partially transforming whenever her tensions were high, so, while she still looked like an adorable young girl, her body had inflated slightly as a small frown adorned her face. This actually increased her adorable factor, especially with the puffed out downy feathers around her neck, but Vahn elected to keep this observation to himself as he averted his eyes, finding Nobunaga doing the same...With an expression akin to a 'serious pout', Benienma shook her finger toward Vahn and Nobunaga as if she were lecturing misbehaving children, exclaiming, "This is your fifth warning, Ten'nō-sama! I told you not to play around in the bath! Even if you clean up after yourself, think of the guests who have to use the water after you-dechi...!"Deciding not to point out the fact that others weren't supposed to use his onsen, as it was meant to be reserved for him and his wives, Vahn lightly scratched his cheek as he said, "Forgive our lack of consideration. The baths here at the Enma-tei are simply too pleasant not to enjoy to the fullest..."As she was exceptionally weak to compliments regarding her ryokan, Benienma struggled to keep an upset expression, forcing herself to maintain a stern look as she answered, "D-don't think I'll let just let you off-"Before Benienma could finish, Vahn's smile became more pronounced as he said, "It's the truth. Why else would I come here so often? Everyone agrees with me, isn't that right, Nobu...?"Further overwhelming the young sparrow, Nobunaga nodded her head, a serious expression on her face as she answered, "The onsens here are world-class. As the Proprietress, you should be proud of that fact. Even this Demon King is impressed with your facilities."No longer able to maintain her stern expression, Benienma had a gleeful smile on her face as she cupped her cheek and bashfully exclaimed, "Oh! You two are too much-dechi~! How can I stay mad at guests? Customer satisfaction is paramount-dechi~!!"Seemingly forgetting her original purpose, Benienma began to walk away, her feathers puffing up happily as she added, "Dinner has already been prepared. When you are ready, just ring the bell and it will be delivered directly to your room, dechi~! I added looooots of love, so I'm certain you'll enjoy it~!"Despite the corridor seeming infinite in length, it didn't take Benienma much time to reach the end, her figure disappearing as she rounded a corner. This left Vahn and Nobunaga laughing like two kids who had pulled off a successful prank. Then, arms still linked, they began to navigate the labyrinthine corridors, finding themselves at their room in a startlingly short period of time...---With more than six-months passing in the outside world, the Yokai District had grown exponentially in size. The flow of time within varied from location-to-location, but, even if you were simply to walk the perpetually moonlit streets, time would stagnate by a factor of three. As a result, an average of eighteen months had passed within the peculiar dimension that existed in the in-between spaces of Avalon, accessible only by getting lost or having an 'invitation' from one of the thousands of Yokai that resided within.Avalon had experienced an explosive growth in its population as of late, eclipsing more than eighty-thousand residents. Though the vast majority of these were Yokai, Spirits, and Fae, approximately six-thousand humans had come to reside in the port city located on the southern end of Avalon. These were mostly orphaned children who had shown considerable progress over the last six months, but, after various changes within the Mage's Association, there were also a number of Faculty members and students from the Clock Tower.Considering his encounter with the Heroes Faction took place a little more than seven months after his arrival in the Nasuverse, a lot could change in six-months. Now, the world had slowly started to move towards stabilizing, and, though construction was ongoing, even the European Supercolony had started to take in its first citizens. Now, it wasn't rare to find people walking around with their Companions, smiles visible on their previously gaunt and downtrodden faces.Though the majority of people still considered the Empire a tyrannical faction headed by a vile and wicked Emperor, sentiments amongst asylum-seekers had changed considerably. Those who lived in close proximity to food distribution centers had quickly adapted to the Common Law, finding their lives had actually improved beyond expectations. Even public order was all but guaranteed, as, the moment someone stepped out of line and tried to cause trouble, Imperial forces would appear to settle the dispute in an instant.It would likely take several generations for people to truly accept the changes brought about by the Empire, but, as most people simply wanted to live stress-free lives, they were quick to acquiesce in the face of convenience. The Empire not only provided food and shelter, but, so long as you obeyed the Common Law, you didn't even have to work. You could spend days on end without leaving your room, investing all your time in reading the hundreds-of-thousands of books and manuals that were provided by the Empire, studying anything that interested you, magic included.Due to the availability of information, strict adherence to the Common Law, and an ever-increasing amount of mana in the environment, a growing number of people had started to display proficiency in the use of Magic. This was especially common near the nascent Supercolonies, as, seeing massive cities built in a short period of time was an eye-opening experience. People had become increasingly captivated by the mysteries of magecraft, opening their minds to the infinite potential represented therein...While these developments were important, Vahn was most grateful for the fact that he now had a considerable amount of free time. He now did most of his training using Arcueid's and Artoria's Marble Phantasms, freeing up his schedule to spend time with his children, teach his students, and tend to his women. As a result, he felt as though his life had become infinitely more fulfilling, even if each day brought a fair amount of, generally pleasant, drama...---With a deadpan expression on his face, Vahn stared at the slovenly figure that was sprawled out across his and Nobunaga's futon. Then, turning his eyes to the surroundings, populated by several empty containers of liquor, he dully asked, "How many times does this make, Shuten...?"Despite Vahn's tone, Shuten giggled in her characteristically seductive manner, rolling onto her stomach and supporting her head with her hand and elbows as she answered, "Didn't I tell you? I won't give up unless you kill or chase me away~."Shaking his head, Vahn released a tired sigh, turning to Nobunaga to find a mixture of amusement and mild frustration visible in her countenance. She actually got along fairly well with Shuten, but, as it wasn't easy to get a few days alone with Vahn, the presence of her fellow connoisseur of fine sake had soured her mood, albeit only a little.Seeing the look in Nobunaga's eyes, Shuten slightly squinted her own, the smile on her face growing a bit as she mused, "Ara~? I wonder if you have forgotten our promise so soon? Tell me, Nobunaga-sama, who was it who teased me to her heart's content, promising to invite me drinking with Ten'nō-sama~?"Hearing Shuten's words, a small amount of panic could be seen in Nobunaga's eyes, her face gaining a ruddy hue as she looked between the mischievous Yokai and Vahn. Fortunately, rather than appear even remotely upset, Vahn just lightly chuckled, asking, "I'm guessing she got you drunk before riling up your sadistic nature?"Before Nobunaga could reply in the affirmative, Shuten adopted a pouting expression, saying, "Hey, that isn't fair, Ten'nō-sama. Even if she is your wife, you can't show favoritism like that. Regardless of the circumstances, it's true that she played me without remorse. Is that not so, Nobunaga-sama~?"Rolling his eyes in response to Shuten's words, Vahn wrapped his hand around Nobunaga's waist, a confident smile on his face as he said, "I know Nobunaga better than anyone. She might get out of hand at times, but she wouldn't do anything I didn't approve of. If you got played by Nobunaga, it is because you willingly incited her sadistic nature after getting her drunk."With Vahn taking her side, Nobunaga couldn't help but adopt a sly smile, squinting her ruby-red eyes in amusement. As for Shuten, she pursed her lips slightly, seemingly thinking about how to best respond but ultimately finding herself unable to refute Vahn's words. Thus, rather than rely on words, she rolled onto her back, looking upside-down at them as she lightly stroked her lower abdomen and said, "Even if I used underhanded tactics, Nobunaga and I still came to an agreement. Is Ten'nō-sama willing to annul such an agreement after the price has already been paid...? How tyrannical~."Shrugging his shoulders in a dismissive response, Vahn turned his attention to Nobunaga, ultimately leaving the decision to her. This caused her to shrug in turn, her smile turning slightly askew as she said, "Well, I wouldn't want to be called a liar. Besides, Shuten's alcohol is quite nice. I wouldn't mind sharing a few drinks before sending her off."Knowing it wouldn't end with just a 'few' drinks, Vahn issued a dry laugh before ultimately nodding his head and saying, "Very well, then. I don't mind cutting loose before my battle tomorrow morning. If this becomes a habit, however, I'll issue a complaint to Benienma. Don't think I'm not aware of the fact you've been using my onsen as you please, Shuten..."Shuten wasn't surprised to hear that Vahn had learned of her 'arrangement' with Benienma, but, as she had promised the latter it wouldn't be revealed, it put her in a somewhat awkward position. She wasn't even remotely afraid of Benienma, but, when it came to things like customer satisfaction, the petite sparrow could become pretty scary. It was also possible for her to be 'banned' from the Enma-tei, preventing her from entering without violating the Common Laws that Vahn had imposed on the entire Yokai District.While formulating a plan to win Benienma to her cause, Shuten pretended to be unaffected, giggling lasciviously as she pulled out a large bowl of fruit, seemingly out of thin air. Then, in a sensual and husky tone, she placed a large grape against her lips, letting it sit there for a few moments before sliding it into her mouth and loudly crunching it. Only after this display did she smile in amusement, answering, "Worry not, Ten'nō-sama. So long as you visit me more often, I can promise this won't become a habit, ufufufu~."Lightly snorting through his nose, Vahn guided Nobunaga to sit across from Shuten, leaving a fair amount of distance between them. Then, to make his point clear, he manifested a large kotatsu to separate them, earning an amused cackle from Nobunaga and a pouting expression from Shuten...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Vahn over here casually creating water elementals...','People are too easily pacified in the face of convenience x_x...','Some things change, others remain the same')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

As an 'Imperial Suite', Vahn's usual room at the Enma-tei had a large pavilion attached to it. This was an area where he could enjoy the fresh evening air and admire the perpetually full, abnormally large, moon above. He found the sight rather mesmerizing, possessing a calming quality that encouraged people to reflect on their actions...While Vahn was enjoying the gentle caress of the night air, Nobunaga and Shuten were both passed out in the room, nary a single piece of cloth between them. This was largely the result of their own efforts, but, as was often the case, Vahn ended up getting pulled along by the momentum of the two drunkards. Fortunately, no matter how insistent they were, he had a policy to avoid making any kind of rash decisions when alcohol was involved, even if he couldn't get drunk.Once Shuten became emboldened, Vahn ended up silencing both her and Nobunaga, albeit after a very long period of sonorous laughter, soul-trembling moans, and hours of heavy panting. He had used his [Hands of Nirvana] to great effect, leaving the two women flushed from head to toe as their bodies overlapped atop the disheveled futon. There were various bottles of sake in the surroundings, so, at a glance, it looked like the two had simply drunken themselves into oblivion. When they finally awoke, however, they were little doubt they would remember everything that had happened to them the previous night...Remembering how things had played out, Vahn couldn't help shaking his head slightly, muttering, "I still get pulled along too easily by the momentum of others...I wonder if this can be attributed to the peaceful times I've been experiencing as of late...?"In response to his inaudible musings, Sis went out of her way to answer, (*You certainly do get more 'whimsical' whenever things slow down. The root cause, however, stems from the fact you are, on the most fundamental level, an empath. Were this not the case, you wouldn't have been troubled by the situation with Mordred and Alexa. If you put your foot down, they would certainly be hurt. With the pass of time, however, they would eventually recover, finding a new path for themselves, aided by your unwavering love as a parent.*)Not expecting Sis to suddenly comment about Mordred and Alexa, Vahn couldn't help but frown. He hadn't actually done anything with Alexa, as she was off in another Record entirely, but it was true he had been thinking about her on occasion. Rather, he had been thinking about Danmachi a lot during this inordinately long period of peace, wondering if he was doing right by his original family by living happily in the present.Vahn knew all of his original women would undoubtedly want him to take his time, enjoying himself in the process of obtaining power. They would want him to be happy, not some mindless machine that only knew how to seek strength. Still, that didn't mean he was free from guilt, especially during long periods of peace. His life was so fulfilling right now that, at times, he would even feel inclined to ignore his training in lieu of spending more time with his children...After running his hand through his hair, Vahn released a profoundly deep sigh, producing a large volume of steamy vapor as he internally remarked, ("I'll try and put my foot down more often in the future...still, I don't regret my choices. Mordred works harder than almost anyone...I've always had a soft spot for earnest women. It was my selfishness that made things unnecessarily complicated...")Rather than refute Vahn's words, Sis issued a soft 'Nn' before saying, (*That is, indeed, the case. Even if your actions were the result of peculiar circumstances, you were still a little too hasty. Don't get me wrong, Vahn. I'm not actually blaming you for your decisions. Rather, I'm more trouble by the fact you allow them to weigh upon your mind. I don't want to see you regress into a depressive state of mind, making mistakes you could have otherwise avoided...*)Hearing Sis's words, Vahn lightly nodded his head, remembering the mistakes he had made toward the end of his time in the Record of Danmachi. He had even squandered a considerable amount of Karma due to his mental state at the time, wasting nearly 150 years of effort in an instant. That was one of the biggest mistakes he had made, as, according to Sis, even evading Akasha's notice would have been a simple feat with that much Karma...The higher Tier the Record, the more comprehensively powerful the forces governing it should be. If he wasn't careful, just entering a Record would draw a lot of attention to himself, directing the focus of every powerful entity towards him. He was actually very lucky that something like the Root System existed, as, depending on the circumstances, any reasonably powerful entity would be able to kill or imprison him, at least for a time.Entering into more powerful Records 'safely' would require an inordinately large amount of Karma, so, while he was tempted to just 'pick up' Eva in the future, Vahn knew he would probably be stuck there for a short while. He would need to defeat the Mage of the Beginning and bring about some kind of lasting change in the world, such as curing diseases or proliferating magical knowledge to the masses. This was the only way to guarantee their safety in future Records, as, even if he could keep everyone safely locked away inside his Soul, manifesting them in the 'real' world would expose them to danger...Though he could build and expand his Empire in each Record he visited, Vahn's experiences over the last few 'years' had shown the futility of such actions. It would be better to transport his Empire with him between each Record, allowing it to expand and grow internally, rather than arbitrarily imposing his will onto others. He would, of course, take a stand against anything he felt was morally incorrect, but, rather than build his Empire from scratch, claiming territory and shaping the world to match his vision, Vahn felt it would be far more liberating to act freely, much like a vagrant, wandering, Hero...Imagining wandering around like an 'Adventurer', Vahn couldn't help but smile as he shook his head and made his way back inside. It was easy to imagine the kind of life you wanted to live, but, when it came down to it, he knew his nature could never overlook things like corruption and the suppression of races. He would likely destroy the nobility of most Records he visited, liberating the people and, if not outright changing the system to reflect his ideals, he would, at the very least, invite them to stay in his own internalized Universe...The instant Vahn stepped inside his room, finding Nobunaga and Shuten still sprawled out on the futon, his senses alerted him to the arrival of a 'guest'. Immediately afterward, a loud crashing could be heard from the direction of the pavilion, followed by a shrill, somewhat panicked voice shouting, "Shuten! Shuten! I've come to save you...!!"Following the outburst, another crashing sound could be heard as Ibaraki broke through the wall, her expression showing concern and frustration as she sniffed at the air like a bloodhound. Then, seeing Vahn staring at her with a deadpan expression on her face, she hoped backward, pointing her finger accusingly as she shouted, "It's you! Smelly Dragon...!"Mimicking Ibaraki's actions, Vahn pretended to be just as shocked, pointing towards the petite Yokai as he shouted, "Banana-oni...!"Hearing the nickname that had been assigned to her, Ibaraki seemed to take critical damage, falling a few steps backward as her already pale complexion turned ghostly. If not for the fact Shuten had been the one to assign her the nickname, she would have immediately pounced upon Vahn with the intent to kill. Instead, her eyes swam around in their sockets as she didn't know whether she should be happy or sad to be addressed as such...While Ibaraki was struggling with her thoughts, Vahn adopted a casual stance with his arms crossed, asking, "What are you thinking, Ibaraki? Even if you're worried about Shuten, how do you think she and Benienma are going to react when they see the damage you've caused to the ryokan? This is the third time you've charged in like this...are you incapable of learning your lesson?"As if she only just now realized where she was, a cold sweat could be seen spreading across Ibaraki's body as she muttered, "An Oni...isn't afraid...of such things..."Even before Ibaraki's words had finished, a swift pitter-patter of footsteps could be heard echoing through the corridors, causing her expression to pale even further as she contemplated running away. Before she could even try, however, Vahn appeared behind her like a phantom, grabbing the back of her obi and lifting her up like a kitten as he said, "You'll only make things worse by trying to run..."Though she was tempted to lash out and attack Vahn, Ibaraki was bound by a contract that made it impossible for her to attack him. Thus, she could only flail her arms and legs powerlessly, shouting in a stressed voice, "Unhand me, you Smelly Dragon...! I am a proud Oni of Mt. Ooe! I will not stand for this indignation...!!"Rather than obey Ibaraki's demands, Vahn tucked her under his arm, ignoring her attempts to break free as he opened the partition connecting his suite to the rest of the ryokan. There, with her sword tucked behind her back as if her tiny body could keep it concealed, Benienma had a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes as she said, "Forgive me, Ten'nō-sama, I noticed...a disturbance..."Before she finished her words, Benienma noticed Ibaraki tucked under Vahn's arm, now pretending to be knocked unconscious as she lay limp in his embrace. This did little to convince the glowering sparrow, however, as Benienma unhesitantly used the sheath of her katana to smack Ibaraki's butt, eliciting a pained scream from the banana-colored Oni. Then, as if she had been the one wronged, she began to flail her arms and legs, shouting, "Turn me around you smelly dragon! I won't just...!"Interrupting Ibaraki's shouting, Benienma smacked her backside a second time, exclaiming harshly, "You be quiet! You're going to interrupt the guests...!"Though Benienma was much weaker than her, Ibaraki was unable to muster up any defense against the former's attacks. She knew Shuten would only get more upset with her, so, rather than continue to lash out, she clenched her teeth, holding back tears as she tightly gripped her blood-red hands into fists.Seeing Ibaraki 'calm down', Vahn allowed her to stand on her own, ignoring her crocodile tears as she rubbed her butt. The truth of the matter was that her Endurance was high enough to be graded as A+, so, while Benienma certainly smacked her with considerable force, it wasn't enough to do any real damage to her. Rather, Ibaraki had a tendency to try and get out of trouble by acting pitiable, a behavior that often got her teased by the far more domineering Shuten.Benienma was fully aware of Ibaraki's usual tactics, however, so her expression remained stern as she said, "I will have you pay me back with your body-dechi. I will have you clean all of the baths using a bucket and cloth. If you refuse, I will ban Shuten from visiting for a month-dechi."Though she wouldn't have cared if she was the one 'banned' from the Enma-tei, Ibaraki knew Shuten would be very upset if she was disallowed entry. Thus, with an expression comparable to someone that had just swallowed a bug, Ibaraki begrudgingly answered, "It's just a bit of cleaning...what's the big deal? Do you think an Oni can't clean baths? I'll clean them all with a bang, just you wait...!"Hearing the 'zeal' contained in Ibaraki's words, Benienma gave an approving nod, her smile returning as she said, "That's the spirit-dechi~! With that kind of motivation, you should be able to finish them all in around one-hundred hours. Let's go. I'll have Akaname-san help you out with cleaning the first one-dechi~!"Upon hearing the words 'one-hundred hours', Ibaraki's expression paled, as, after giving her word, she couldn't retract it. This was the same reason she couldn't resist against Vahn, as, while he hadn't done anything to rein her in, Shuten had comprehensively ensnared her in a trap. If Vahn wanted to, he could even peel her flesh and eat it like jerky, and, due to the nature of her contract, she would be forced to serve it to him on a silver platter. Of course, Vahn would never do anything like this, but, no matter how 'nice' he was to her, Ibaraki hated him for the fact Shuten would quickly abandon her to spend more time with him...Feeling as though Vahn was to blame for every bad thing in her life, Ibaraki glared at him with actual tears in her eyes, an incredibly frustrated expression on her face as she shouted, "You Smelly Dragon bastard! Stupid, pervert, Lolic-."Before Ibaraki could continue shouting, Benienma smacked the top of her head with a large wooden spoon, stating, "That is no way to speak to Ten'nō-sama! If you keep making trouble for our guests, I will have you mopping the entire floor on your hands and feet-dechi...!"Though Vahn was her most important guest, he was also the man most of them recognized as their Master. Thus, Benienma couldn't tolerate Ibaraki's thoughtless words, her expression forming a pout as she brandished a wooden spoon like a sword. Then, bowing steeply towards the silently observing Vahn, she began to apologize, only for the former to raise her up, saying, "Don't mind it, Beni. Ibaraki is just worried about Shuten. She'll calm down once the latter wakes up and returns home."With her Master saying as much, Benienma just nodded her head in understanding before giving the banana-colored Oni a pointed look out of the corner of her eye. This caused Ibaraki to audibly click her tongue, averting her eyes and refusing to make eye contact with anyone. Then, without looking up at Vahn, she said, "If you bully Shuten, I will eat you...smelly dragon..."Without waiting for a response, Ibaraki quickly departed the room, bolting down the corridor with a frustrated expression on her face. As for Benienma, she took a few steps backward to prevent Vahn from stopping her, bowing several times before giving chase. This left Vahn standing in the threshold of the door, arms still crossed as he watched the two child-like girls run through the impossibly long corridor. Then, staring over his shoulder, he looked at the figure standing further inside, saying, "You should be more honest with Ibaraki. If you keep sneaking out or tying her up, she will only get more stressed out..."Shrugging her shoulders as if it had nothing to do with her, Shuten made her way over to Vahn's side, now wearing her loose-purple kimono. She had been intending to step in and deal with Ibaraki herself, but, seeing how easily Vahn and Benienma dealt with the situation, it didn't seem necessary.Despite Shuten's apparent disregard, Vahn knew she actually cared deeply about Ibaraki. She rarely showed it around others, but, when they were alone together, Vahn knew she fawned over her much younger counterpart. He had even seen multiple timelines where Shuten transformed into a literal monster, almost exclusively as a result of something happening to her surrogate daughter...After reaching Vahn's side, Shuten wasted little time in invading his personal space, using her foot to close the sliding partition as she said, "I wouldn't have to sneak out if you would visit us more often. If you're worried about Ibaraki, come and stay with us for a few days. If you treat her well, I'm certain she will grow on you, ufufufu~."Hearing Shuten's usual proposition, Vahn released a tired sigh, extending his hand to rube the top of her head as he said, "We both know it isn't that simple. If I came to visit, she would begin to lash out even more. She doesn't like when you pay attention to other people. This is why I keep telling you to push her to make more friends. Other than Spenta and her little posse of Companions, who else can be considered Ibaraki's friend?"Shrugging a second time, Shuten attempted to lean against Vahn's body, a thoughtful look in her eyes as she answered, "I've tried, you know? She keeps going on and on about how an Oni doesn't need friends. I think she feels threatened by the others. She rarely even leaves the Yokai District. The only time she even plays with Spenta is when I take her with me to visit Nobunaga-sama."As he was well aware of everything Shuten was telling him, Vahn just shook his head, releasing yet another sigh before muttering, "Maybe I should send Spenta to stay with the two of you during the upcoming Spring Celebration..."Though it sounded like he was asking for Shuten's opinion, Vahn was closely monitoring the Flow of Fate, attempting to peer into the future to determine whether or not Spenta's presence would be a positive influence on the rambunctious Oni. Unfortunately, the opposite seemed to be true, as, for a brief moment, he saw Ibaraki cackling happily as she tried to force Spenta to down a large basin of sake...Clearing that thought from his mind, Vahn then considered whether or not he should just train and discipline Ibaraki directly. He knew this would result in her turning even more rebellious, but, so long as he kept at it, she should eventually mellow out. The biggest problem with this, however, was that Shuten would persistently intervene, drawing out the process considerably. The only way to prevent this was to personally deal with Shuten, but, as there was really only one way to turn her docile, that was easier said than done...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Sis be like, "I don't care what you do, just be happy while doing it.','Benienma vs. the Banana Oni?','Other People: "You can't just sex away all your problems!", Vahn: "Are you sure about that? There are no limits o_o...!"')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

When everything was said and done, the Heroes Faction ended up being forced out of the Moon Cell, their penultimate destination being Mt. Emei, one of the Four Sacred Peaks located in Southern China. Here, Chang'e established their official headquarters, claiming the 3100m tall mountain as the first official stronghold of the Heroes Faction. From there, they were free to do pretty much anything they wanted, so long as they followed the Common Law while doing so.Almost immediately after the Heroes Faction had settled down, a not-so-unexpected separation in their forces occurred, chiefly as a result of a few of the more prideful Heroic Spirits refusing to be led by Shirou, even with Musashi's support. As a result, Hippolyta ended up migrating west, seeking out her ancestral homeland near modern-day Turkey. This had led to a bit of conflict in the region, but, after a very brief skirmish, Hippolyta was able to claim the northern region of Terme, renaming it to 'New Themiscyra'.Vahn hadn't been fond of her rather overbearing display, but, after a brief period of negotiations, he allowed her to claim the territory so long as she allowed Companions to freely roam the lands. If she hadn't acted in 'self-defense' during the initial attack, however, he would have forced her to retreat, regardless of whether or not she had the support of Caenis, and, somewhat unexpectedly, Aife...The penultimate goal of Hippolyta was the establishment of a 'Paradise of Women', an area where females could flee to in order to seek greater strength. It was meant to be completely off-limits to men, as, after her death at the hands of Heracles' treachery, Hippolyta had lost all faith in the more 'barbaric' sex. As for why Caenis and Aife followed her, the former's reasons were pretty transparent.Caenis simply hated men, and, though she wasn't fond of Hippolyta's appreciation for Ares, their shared heritage and desire for battle brought them together. It only took Hippolyta displaying her prowess in battle to convince her, so, now that they were 'free' to act as they pleased, Caenis felt that building a paradise for women wasn't the worst way to spend her time. It would take a fair amount of time, but, due to the nature of the current world, it didn't take long for their numbers to increase beyond five digits after they began accepting refugees.The biggest issue with Hippolyta's 'plan' was the fact that many refugee women had families, with the obvious inclusion of some sons. Since it would be a grievous violation of the Common Law for her to forcibly exile the children, they established a secondary, outer, region along the outskirts of New Themiscyra. Here, males under the age of fourteen, a number Hippolyta had borrowed from the Common Law, were allowed to stay with their mothers. As for those older than fourteen, they were forced to venture out on their own, expected to take care of themselves from that moment onwards.While this kind of society seemed unnecessarily biased, it would serve as a strong contrast to the communities within the Supercolonies. Since the women fleeing to New Thmiscyra had willingly done so, Vahn didn't directly intervene with the establishment of the new city, built courtesy of Aife and her army of sapphire-blue automatons.As it was relatively difficult to enforce the Common Law at the present moment, several communities had been established in the wake of 'The Fall'. Many of these were male-dominated societies, as men were, more often than not, more aggressive and ambitious than their fairer counterparts. As a result, many charismatic and exploitative men had taken over their local communities, taking advantage of and often suppressing females.The Empire had destroyed thousands of budding communities that operated on such principles, but, regardless of how many they destroyed, others would pop up soon thereafter. Though this changed depending on things like region and culture, it was difficult to argue against Hippolyta's and Caenis' beliefs when there were countless examples of much worse societies. Even if there were also regions that were dominated by a few relatively powerful females, often reversing the dynamic between men and women. Though they were the minority, a saddening number of these communities came about as a result of those very same women being mistreated by their male counterparts.Factors like stress could greatly increase the rate at which supernatural powers developed, so, with many people suffering as the result of selfishness within their community, rapid shifts in power were common. As this often led to the previously oppressed group turning around to oppress the ones who had treated them poorly, it had become a rather vicious cycle in some regions. Thus, while the existence of a 'female only' community would undoubtedly cause problems, Vahn would tolerate it, so long as they followed the Common Law...Fortunately, while Hippolyta's actions were rather contentious, the Heroes Faction, as a whole, had been able to expand its influence at a monstrous rate. The current transitory era could be surmised as a period in which strength and 'superpowers' reigned supreme. Thus, whenever someone with far greater power than normal appeared, it garnered a lot of attention.While a large number of countries had collapsed under the economic strain and subsequent collapse of modern infrastructure, those with more 'structured' political systems had managed to survive. This mainly included relatively small countries, such as Japan and South Korea, but, despite a period of ongoing political turmoil, even China and the United States of America had been able to crawl their way back to prominence.Though their 'original' governments had collapsed entirely, the organizations and families that had established those governments in the first place had continued to survive. They had hundreds, if not thousands, of years to make preparations for such events. Thus, while 'modern' society had quickly collapsed, they were able to slowly reclaim their nations due to the existence of several powerhouses that already existed prior to The Fall.As could be expected, this type of dynamic led to many large countries being divided into various smaller territories, each governed by a powerful or influential family. This, in turn, led to a few large scale conflicts, the majority of which were swiftly brought to an end by Imperial intervention. As a result, battles were decided by the number of powerful and influential people one side possessed, as, in accordance with the Common Law, dueling had been legitimized as a method of settling civil disputes.With literal Gods, Demigods, Generals, and legendary warriors on their side, the Heroes Faction had been able to quickly expand their influence by allying with the more 'righteous' families. At the same time, the aid they provided to the people greatly strengthened their popularity, restoring hope and inspiring communities to come together, working towards a common goal. This didn't completely eliminate the number of people who got drunk off newfound power, but, regardless of how strong they became, there was little they could do in the face of a 'Hero'.Even prior to The Fall, the concept of a Hero had captivated the hearts and minds of people all over the globe, aided by the advent of cinematography and expressed through mediums such as video games. It was difficult to find a person who didn't have a favorite superhero or a specific power they believed to be the most powerful. Thus, when literal Heroes began to appear, striking down villains, ending bloody conflicts, and providing aid, the people readily rallied behind them, hoping for relief.With careful political maneuvering, combined with forging alliances with the right people, it was only a matter of time before the Heroes Faction became one of the most influential forces in the world. It helped that, rather than seize control of the regions they provided aid to, they left the governance to the 'people'. This made their actions appear selfless, but, more importantly, it prevented the Heroes from becoming too well known. People could be exceptionally selfish, so, when someone with power appeared, doing their best to help, society began 'expecting' them to help, forcing their burdens on others in order to live easier lives.There had already been a few attempts to compel the Heroes Faction to rise against the Empire, but, by exposing the mastermind behind these movements, most rebellions were quickly quelled. While this had the consequence of some people linking the Heroes Faction and Empire together, this rarely grew beyond the point of rumors. It was hard to lay accusations on a group that had worked to save millions of lives, especially when they had the support of various political factions, including many traditionalist families.Since it was one of the few opportunities they had to secure their sovereignty, the most powerful families had quickly realized the significance of the Heroes Faction. Though some were on the fence, at least in the beginning, their minds were made up once they realized the Empire largely ignored the group's actions. This made it apparent that the Empire tolerated the existence of the Heroes Faction, affirming that the Common Law wasn't just a series of convenient restrictions that could be ignored at the Empire's discretion.Many of the more 'forward-thinking' countries had started to structure their system of governance around the Common Law, even before the advent of the Heroes Faction. The latter's existence just proved the veracity of their assumptions, allowing them to more confidently secure their power and influence without fear of repercussions.The greatest difficulty any country or faction faced in the present was the availability of resources, but, so long as you followed the spirit and letter of the Common Law, the Empire readily provided aid. This required the visit of an Auditor and a systematic analysis of needs, versus wants, but, as it all but guaranteed they were able to keep their people fed, most vying for power didn't mind sacrificing a bit of privacy. There was no way to directly oppose the Empire, so, rather than paint a target upon themselves by resisting, they endeavored to reap as many benefits as possible.Vahn didn't particularly care how many nations, countries, kingdoms, and communities survived The Fall, as, from the very beginning, he didn't intend to directly govern. The Empire had already staked a claim to the land required for the construction of the Supercolonies. This would allow him to provide protection and sanctuary to all sapient races during the coming convergence. Thus, so long as they were willing to follow the Common Law, he saw no reason to directly intervene in the governance of other countries.In the end, trying to exercise 'complete' control was pointless, as, due to the nature of the Universe and the existence of the Karmic System, you would only invite greater tragedy upon yourself. Even if he eliminated 'all evil' within the world, the next set of enemies would either come from outer space, or, infinitely more troubling, other dimensions. He could seal off the Time Axis, preventing people from moving backward to invade his present, but, no matter how hard he tried, closing off the planet without completely isolating it was impossible.Vahn knew that the Olympian Gods could all be classified between S and EX-Rank, putting them on par with existences such as Arcueid. Though she would ultimately be able to defeat them, the Divine Authority wielded by the Olympians would make them exceptionally troublesome opponents. This was especially true for Zeus, who, according to Merlin, had enough power to potentially inflict mortal wounds upon the planet itself. He was also a notoriously aggressive and self-entitled God, so, once he returned from the Reverse Side, it was all but guaranteed he would try and secure his place as the primary God.Fortunately, with adequate preparations, the Divine Authority of Gods could be restricted. Better yet, due to the nature of Divinity within the Nasuverse, the Olympian Gods would actually get weaker as time passed. After all, their power was derived from much older Gods, many of which were still alive and well on the Reverse Side.Once the convergence reached a certain point, older generations of Gods would begin to return, the Divinity they possessed superseding that of younger generations. Eventually, Goddesses like Ishtar and Ereshkigal would become far more powerful than most Olympian Gods, as, while not the oldest, the Gods from Ancient Sumeria, Babylon, and Mesopotamia were some of the oldest. They were the generation of Gods that had seized power from Tiamat, laying the foundation for the Surface World, and, subsequently, ensuring the Age of Gods would come to an end...In order to prepare for far greater threats, Vahn couldn't afford to worry too much about the matters of the 'outside' world. Fortunately, with the combination of CHALDEAS, his ability to read the Flow of Fate, the analytical ability of Sherlock, and the systems created by Da Vinci, the Empire didn't have to worry about being blindsided by future events. Most troubles were settled before they became even greater threats, and, due to the comprehensive nature of their forecasting, Vahn could even delegate specific personnel to deal with threats.Though there were no such things as guarantees regarding the future, especially when powerful foes were involved, the ability to read the Flow of Fate allowed Vahn to make reasonable assumptions. He could peek into the future of anyone accepting Quests to determine whether or not they would face any substantial danger in the process. This allowed him to more confidently allow his subordinates, students, and children to venture out into the outside world, dealing with the various monsters that had started to appear around the world.By delegating responsibilities to other people, Vahn was able to focus more on the internal affairs of the Empire, chiefly concerning the development of Avalon, the Yokai District, and the ever-growing population of Fae and other Spirits. He also spent a lot of time teaching his students, including most of his children, as, due to the nature of the Projection, they grew faster than bean sprouts.Fortunately, with the exception of Artoria, there were no other pregnancies within Avalon, at least for the time being. Though some were more than a little tempted to become mothers, such as Tamamo, Nero, and Kenshin, they had other things they were more interested in. The former had become the de facto ruler of the Yokai District, largely due to the fact Shuten simply didn't care. As for Nero and Kenshin, they had been working tirelessly to support the construction of the Supercolonies, often to the point of requiring Vahn to directly order they take some time off...Though Nero had been notorious for delegating responsibilities to others, history also showed that she had been willing to personally lead the charge when she believed it was required. Now that she was no longer plagued by incessant migraines, she was even more focused and resolute than before, almost to an overwhelming extent.Fortunately, as a result of her [Imperial Privilege] granting her A-Rank [Charisma], even her excessive actions were interpreted favorably by those she interacted with. She had even been able to win over a large portion of the refugee population around the European Supercolony, restoring order to the relatively chaotic region. As a result, the number of 'citizens' acquiescing the Imperial rule had been increasing faster than initial projections, proving just how powerful Skills like [Charisma] could be at higher ranks.In truth, Nero's zeal was actually the result of the changes to Artoria, as, despite her best efforts, she found herself lacking in comparison to the aptly titled Dragon Empress. Thus, rather than compete in a contest she couldn't hope to win, Nero decided to prove her value by excelling in the purpose that had been assigned to her at the time of her summoning. This wasn't really necessary, as Vahn always showed consideration for all of his women, but, much like the other women, Nero couldn't help but feel slightly threatened by Artoria's changes...Though she had always been the most influential woman in the Inner Sanctum, Artoria's status had been elevated a considerable amount after her 'evolution'. Not only did she carry herself with even greater dignity and confidence, but, due to the nature of her Divinities, even Goddesses like Ishtar were somewhat cowed by her presence. This was due to the fact that, against expectations, Artoria actually had a 'Dragon' Divinity, which, when combined with her Fortune and Fate Divinities, made her an exceptionally terrifying existence.Only someone like Arcueid could directly contend against the current Artoria, but, as she possessed no desire to fight for status, spending most of her time reading or drinking tea with other members of the Inner Sanctum, Artoria was left unchallenged. Rather, there had been none to challenge her even before the change, so, now that she had become a Dragon Goddess, her position had virtually been secured. The only one with any desire to directly contend against her was Mordred, but, as this manifested as the desire to train harder, that wasn't exactly a bad thing...(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'People can be profoundly stupid','This is starting to sound like the back story for BNHA...','Uncontested Goddess of Dragons')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 1475: Changing Tides