Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though she could understand Vahn's anger, Kenshin was still an affiliate of Kotoamatsukami. She also didn't believe her Goddess, Amaterasu Ōmikami-sama, was as malicious as Vahn was making her out to be. There were times when she could be ruthless, but, as a Goddess in charge of one of the largest Factions in the Little Garden, showing weakness was the same as inviting tragedy upon the billions who relied on the Sun Goddess's grace and protection."Vahn-dono...I believe there has-"Raising his hand to silence the nervous-looking swordswoman, Vahn said, "What you choose to believe has nothing to do with me. If Amaterasu wishes to apologize, she knows where I live. You have no right or reason to speak for her...""I-""Have misinterpreted my words? Yeah, I noticed. Don't worry, even if Kotoamatsukami attempts to wage war against the Sage Dragon's Hearth, I have no intention of holding anyone but the people in charge accountable. Stop looking at me like I'm some kind of monster that's going to appear in your territory and start slaughtering innocents. I am not your Goddess.""..."As she had never been the most sociable person, Kenshin found herself at a complete loss in the face of Vahn's words. This seemed to amuse Musashi Black quite a bit, a cheeky smile developing across her no longer bored expression as she remarked, "Wow, you really know how to put people in their place, don't you? If you're half as good with your sword as you are with your-"Interrupting before her counterpart could finish, Musashi Pink stated, "Don't even think about it, doll face. Unless you're prepared to spread those pretty little legs of yours, you shouldn't involve yourself with this one. He has a thing for strong-willed women and you won't be able to get him out of your head once he sends you back to foundation building..."Though the thought of Vahn dominating another Musashi made her more than a little giddy, Pink would much rather be rid of the raven-haired swordswoman. As novel as this encounter had been, the world had no need for two Miyamoto Musashi(s).Demonstrating she wasn't all that different from her sakura-haired counterpart, Black gave Vahn a clearly intrigued look. She was no stranger to the relations between men and women. Rather, once you reached her level, there was little else to do but drown yourself in alcohol and debauchery.Unfortunately, like many of the most powerful swordsmen in the East Side, the only people Black would sleep with were those she recognized as her contemporaries. For one reason or another, this meant most of her partners in the last three hundred years had been female. Her last male partner had been Sasaki Kojiros, but, ever since he got played to death by the Purple Demon, the reclusive swordsman had spent more than fifty years in seclusion...Seemingly having made up her mind, a smile developed across Black's face as she replied, "Sounds like fun."Though she wasn't particularly surprised by her counterpart's brazenness, an exasperated sigh still escaped Pink's lips. She had once been willing to give up everything, even her soul, just to pursue the path of swordsmanship a few steps further. Instead, Vahn showed her countless paths she had never even considered. Now, even if she were to fight against an innumerable number of her past selves, they might not even be able to comprehend how they died...Simply put, if Vahn humored Black, the raven-haired woman would doubtlessly become obsessed with him. Pink wouldn't have been bothered if Black was anyone else, but, imagining Vahn calling out the name 'Musashi' while he was with another woman caused a chill similar to sword intent to exude from the very core of her being. Thus, before she even realized the words coming out of her mouth, she locked eyes with her raven-haired counterpart, a vicious smile on her face as she said, "Over my dead body..."Undaunted by her counterpart's words, an equally vicious smile developed across the face of Black as she retorted, "Don't tempt me with a good time, Pinky..."Recovering a bit thanks to the actions of the two Musashi(s), Kenshin cleared her throat, a mask of calm veiling her previous nervousness as she stated, "That isn't the reason we came here, Musashi. If the two of you are insistent on determining the 'True Musashi', I suggest settling things at Gojo Ohashi. Quarreling like children behind closed doors is inappropriate for people of your status and ability..."Though she would normally abide by Kenshin's words, a snort escaped Black's nose as she replied, "I'm to learn propriety from someone who invites an assassin into the home of a person they are trying to make a deal with? Shave your head and go preach somewhere else..."Inhaling an inhumanly deep breath, Kenshin's hair and clothes began to bristle as if acted upon by a powerful wind. This caused the color to drain from Black's face, but, having known Kenshin for more than three hundred years, she was fairly certain the highly principled swordswoman wouldn't attack over a few teasing words...While Black's assessment of the situation wasn't entirely incorrect, she had failed to account for the fact that Kenshin was even more upset by the situation than she was. She abhorred such tactics, yet, due to her status as the 'Peerless Under Heaven', she bore the burden of executing Amaterasu's will.Causing Black to pale even further, Kenshin, with a pouty expression and tears beginning to build in the corners of her eyes, pulled out a piece of folded washi paper, a Japanese-style long brush, and a high-quality inkstone."H-Hold on a minute, Kenshin! It was just a joke! A joke...!"Ignoring Musashi Black's words, Kenshin suppressed a few sniffles as she aggressively prepared her brush for use. She was fully intent on issuing a challenge letter to her longtime friend and rival, but, before she could finish scraping the inkstone, Vahn interrupted, asking, "Uh...can we get on with our discussion? As much as I'm enjoying this little exchange, I have other matters to attend to. You also need to inform your Master that she has crossed my bottom line. I would feel guilty if I showed up and she had no idea why I was punishing her..."Wiping away the evidence of her indignant fury using the sleeve of her kimono, Kenshin managed to regain her mask of calm as she said, "Vahn-dono is correct...please forgive my imprudence..." in an audibly strained tone.Restraining the urge to scratch the back of his head, Vahn forced a smile as he said, "Don't worry about it...now, where were we?"......Though Musashi and Kenshin ultimately refused his services, Vahn didn't particularly mind. He knew their only intention had been gathering information. Since his contract and services weren't exactly a secret, he just treated the interaction as entertaining guests.Going into the discussion, Vahn's only goal had been introducing Musashi to her counterpart in the Nine Dragons Sword Association. The appearance, heck, the very existence of Hanako had caught him completely off guard. Thus, while he was more than a little incensed by Amaterasu's disregard for the safety of his children, Vahn didn't mind putting off her potential execution so he could help the peculiar Demon Lord get settled.With this in mind, Vahn linked the Temporal Axes between their two territories before asking Da Vinci to return to the Sage Dragon's Hearth. When she heard the reason for his request, she didn't even hesitate before dropping everything else she was working on, as, compared to the mundane task of conquering the West Side, investigating an anomalous existence on the level of Hanako was infinitely more interesting.Seeing Hanako for herself, albeit after using quite a number of advanced detection spells, Da Vinci's eyes shifted like a kinetic painting as she remarked, "Oh my...had I not already conducted 1,307,492 studies into non-existent physiologies, I would never have imagined such a person could exist...well, appear to exist..."As Vahn had been her primary focus for the better part of 50,000 years, Da Vinci had done 'a lot' of research into his anomalous properties. She was even aware of the existence of the Law of Identity. After all, she was literally the person who planted the idea of creating her Template in Vahn's mind. Thus, as tantalizingly intriguing as Hanako's physiology was, Da Vinci wasn't particularly impressed by it. Compared to Vahn's ability to separate himself from the Axes of Time, Space, and Reality itself, Hanako's ability was quite a low level...Realizing she was, once again, comparing one of her subjects to Vahn, specks of pink appeared in Da Vinci's eyes as she sent a playful gaze his way. At the same time, the inordinately thick tail that dangled from the bottom of her skirt perked up slightly. It wasn't enough to show anything but it was more than enough to plant ideas in Vahn's mind...Shaking his head, Vahn resisted the urge to ruffle Da Vinci's indescribably smooth hair as he said, "I need you to develop an upgrade for Will and the Companions. Though it could sever the concepts binding Hanako-""Someone else would invariably appear as her replacement. Worry yourself no longer, my beloved. Now that I'm here, the matter may as well be settled. Just make sure you prepare a suitable reward, okay~?"Wafting a few her pheromones Vahn's way, Da Vinci's already picturesque smile become a peerless masterpiece as she saw his pupils contract into thin slits. He might keep it concealed at most times, but, deep down, potentially serving as the foundation of his very being, Vahn was still a Dragon. She had restructured her body countless times in order to be completely irresistible to him, so, while he no longer pushed her down the moment she teased him, Da Vinci took pleasure in knowing he had to stop time just to hold himself back..."Unless you're going to start painting me, I'd rather not continue holding this position..."As her SS-Ranked Embodiment of Beauty compelled her to present her best angle when she was smiling directly at someone, Da Vinci couldn't help speaking out to interrupt Vahn's gawking. The very faint blush that developed across his face caused her smile to become even more prominent, but, thanks to him averting his eyes, she was able to return her attention to Hanako, saying, "Shall we move to my lab? Don't worry, none of the tests I'll be conducting are invasive in a manner that might cause you any harm. I swear by every Gift I have and ever will possess."With a Geass Roll literally appearing in response to Da Vinci's words, Hanako was able to breathe a little easier. She had long grown indifferent to the pain and suffering wrought by human curiosity and experimentation, but, if given the option, she would rather avoid it. Da Vinci gave her a similar impression to the Scientists who once held her captive during her brief stay in the West Side. They had also worn kind smiles, but, shortly after agreeing to let them 'protect' her, they stored her away in an underground containment facility and performed all manner of inhumane experiments on her.Though there were various loopholes to be exploited when it came to Geass Rolls, there were few greater assurances than a person swearing by their Gifts. If they violated their promise, they would never, under any circumstances, be able to make use of a single Gift. This included tools, and, more notably, things as instrumental as water produced by a Water Tree. In other words, if Da Vinci broke her promise, she wouldn't even be able to eat or drink if said food and water were produced from a Gift.Extending her hand, Hanako accepted Da Vinci's with a smile. Her nature made it impossible for her to ever truly trust another person, but, much like an actual Lost and Forgotten child, Hanako could be remarkably gullible in the face of kindness, real or otherwise...Seeing through each and every one of Hanako's thoughts, an indescribably motherly expression promptly developed across Da Vinci's face. She could understand why Vahn would want to help such a girl, so, even if Hanako never trusted her, Da Vinci swore in her heart she would never let either of them down.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'We have ourselves a Highlander situation here...','Kenshin is surprisingly cute xD...','Every time Da Vinci appears, she immediately puts herself into contention for the title of Best Girl...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Entrusting the matter of Hanako to Da Vinci, the version of Vahn that had called her over made his way to a relatively 'distant' location within the Sage Dragon's Hearth.Contrasting the completely normal exterior, the interior of the Sage Dragon's Hearth had expanded exponentially since its establishment. Each room could serve as a localized Realm, and, the moment you descended into the basement, a labyrinth reminiscent of Benienma's Enmatei awaited you.Unless you had permission to be there, navigating the more secure regions of the Sage Dragon's Hearth was like trying to travel between dimensions without even the most rudimentary mastery over space and time. Every path would lead you back to the entrance, and, unless you knew the spatial coordinates of your destination, forcing open any of the doors would connect you to the streets outside.The only beings that could outright ignore the security measures of the Sage Dragon's Hearth were Vahn, Will, and the Companions. This was an intentional design flaw, as, throughout the course of his life, Vahn had learned that the more secure and off-limits a place was, the more likely a Child of Destiny would find their way in. It might not happen any time soon, but, so long as there was a rare or powerful treasure contained within, fate would conspire to have someone make use of it...Bypassing the doors that would have contained his personal atelier and workshop, Vahn entered a door connecting to what appeared to be an outdoor antechamber. It was a small space decorated with various types of plants, but, more importantly, there were three ancient-looking marble doors perfectly interspaced at each of the cardinal directions. There was also a stone bench, but, ignoring everything else, Vahn made his way to the Easternmost door, an entrance marked with the motifs of various animals.Placing his hand at the center of the stone door, a magical pattern reminiscent of vines immediately lit up before gradually covering the surface. Once it had, the material of the door appeared to break down into mist-like particles, but, instead of dispersing like a gaseous vapor, it held its form even as Vahn passed through to the other side.Passing through the door, Vahn found himself in the center of an almost spherical clearing formed from various plants. The stone door immediately solidified behind him, but, rather than connecting to anything, it stood at the exact center of the clear, completely isolated from everything except the stone platform it was situated upon.Spreading his senses through the area, a smile developed across Vahn's face as he extended his hand to form a cantaloupe-sized rhinoceros beetle. Instead of a black carapace, however, it was formed almost entirely of a deep, amethyst-purple crystal that exuded a tremendous amount of magical energy.Following the appearance of the beetle, an amorphous white blur entered the clearing without producing so much as a single sound. Then, despite moving at massively hypersonic speeds, it impacted Vahn's body without pushing him backward before coiling around his torso and into his tunic before emerging from his sleeve in the form of a diminutive girl possessing six arms, healthy brown skin, large fluffy ears, and a body covered in predominately white fur.Using two of her arms and legs, the tiny figure latched to Vahn's arm while seizing the beetle in his hand with a ravenous expression on her face. It didn't matter that the beetle was nearly as large as her head. The moment her claws penetrated its crystalline carapace, her jaw stretched in a manner eerily reminiscent of a cartoon character as she chomped down on more than a third of the fretful insect in a single bite.Chuckling in amusement at the sight, several other insects began to emerge from Vahn's body as he took a seat. Immediately thereafter, several other phantoms entered the clearing, each darting over to one of the insects on his body before claiming their prize and perching themselves upon him. This continued until the only part of his body uncovered by fluffy white fur was Vahn's wryly smiling face.Fortunately, the moment they realized there was no room left for them to perch, the amorphous little girls began to meld together until they had constructed a form even larger than Vahn. Then, as they would much rather be smaller, the oversized anomaly spontaneously shrunk until she was able to sit snuggly within Vahn's lap. Several other versions of her showed up after that, but, rather than pouncing on Vahn, they accepted their prize before shrinking down and combining with the version of themselves purring in response to his caress...With several minutes passing, each of the stragglers was finally able to reach the clearing. Then, and only then, did Vahn break the silence, asking, "Have you been getting along with your brother and sister?"Responding to Vahn's inquiry, the fluffy white creature ceased purring before raising its head and adopting a far more human appearance as it stated, "Xys has been a good girl."Pinching the loveable little girl's cheeks, Vahn adopted an affectionate smile as he mused, "Xysteria is always a good girl."With her eyes widened to an almost comical extent, Xysteria muttered a mystified, "Woh..." before promptly pouncing on her papa and exclaiming, "Xys loves Papa~!" in a happy tone.Chuckling in response to the overly affectionate girl's words, Vahn combed down Xysteria's fan-like tails before supporting her like a koala. This was always enough to immediately calm her down, so, while her body morphed into a form easier to hold, Vahn shifted his attention towards empty space and asked, "Are you not going to come out and say hello?"Responding to Vahn's words, a soft yet perennially calm voice answered, "I didn't want to interrupt before you succeeded in calming her down."Manifesting along with the words, even though his mouth didn't move, was a remarkably thin and petite young boy resembling a time-themed harlequin. There were various timepieces adorning his body, but, far more noticeable than the youth's appearance were the illusory clocks that encircled his body like pale-blue, three-dimensional projections."Though it has only been seventeen hours, thirty-three minutes, and forty-nine seconds since we last met, it is good to see you father."Though the youth's expression didn't change in the slightest, he punctuated his words by removing the bicorn cap from his head. This revealed an extra set of cat ears, but, more importantly, allowed Vahn to extend his hand and gently ruffle the youth's pale, ashen-grey hair as he said, "It's good to see you as well, Krona. I trust you have been keeping things in order while I was away?"Offering the faintest of smiles, Krona, once again without his mouth moving, answered, "Of course. I would never betray the trust that Father and Mother have placed in me. Speaking of which, how has Mother been? I miss her dearly."Smiling wryly in response to his son's melancholic remark, Vahn resisted the urge to remind him he could always go and visit Alaya whenever he wanted. Unfortunately, unless the planet they were on was put into stasis, he refused to divert his attention for so much as a single attosecond. Alaya had given him the task of observing and protecting Silva, so, unless she manifested to accompany them, Krona wasn't going anywhere.Unfortunately, Alaya had a very similar mentality. She was constantly monitoring each and every one of Gaia's ever-increasing Textures, so, unless Vahn put his foot down, paused time, and brought everyone together, the headstrong mother and son refused to take a break.Though he was tempted to do exactly that, Vahn's options were limited as Silva was currently in a dormant state. She was getting ready to 'birth' her first generation of Gods, so, while Xysteria drove evolution on the Surface, Krona kept silent vigil over Silva as she gathered strength in the planet's core."Don't worry. It probably won't be today but I'll make sure to bring it up the next time I see Alaya. It's been a while so I'm pretty sure I can talk her and your other mothers into an impromptu family reunion of sorts."Perking up in response to Vahn's words, Xysteria grew to the size of a small, approximately ten-year-old child she excitedly inquired, "Tiamama come here!?"Though he channeled a bit of calming energy into her back to reduce Xysteria's tensions, Vahn didn't hesitate to nod his head, answering, "Of course. The two of you can even play in the sea again."As the sea was basically the starting point of terrestrial life, it was the region most susceptible to Tiamat's and Xysteria's influence. This made it a remarkably dangerous place for Xysteria to play, but, as sapient life had yet to form on Silva's surface, advancing evolution by a few million years over the course of a single barbeque wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Rather, Silva and Krona had grown fond of their chaotic little sister's creations...Unable to contain herself, even with Vahn's coaxing, Xysteria's body continued to increase in size until he could no longer hold her naturally. Then, undermining his efforts from before, her body promptly 'exploded' into more than a hundred different versions of herself. This caused the original Xysteria to feel more than a little guilty, but, before she could even think to apologize, Vahn took a seat and repeated similar words as before, stating, "No need to get upset. Even when you're split up like this, Xysteria is still a good girl."Though a few of her less stable counterparts wandered off into the surrounding, primordial forest, the vast majority of Xysteria(s) immediately pounced on their Papa. Receiving his praise made her tummy feel like it was filled with a swarm of tiny, winged insects. It was a very unpleasant feeling if she tried to suppress it, so, whenever she felt happy or excited, Xysteria let everything out without inhibition. This was something she could only do with her Papa, so, knowing it was only a matter of time until he had to leave, she practically buried him in her clones, each vying for the opportunity to be closest to his warmth.Fortunately, the moment he realized this, Vahn unhesitantly abandoned his human form, willfully assuming a more amorphous form so that he could 'embrace' each of the Xysteria(s) at the same time. This prompted Krona to pull out one of his timepieces, a large pocket watch, as, rather than feeling as though he was being ignored, he rather enjoyed documenting how long it took his father to calm Xysteria down.........Emerging from the ancient-looking door with unkempt hair and a number of persistent bite marks all over his body, Vahn made his way over to the Northernmost door to meet with Alaya, Gaia, and Tiamat. Silva wouldn't be waking up any time soon, but, if they really wanted to, it was possible for Krona to advance the flow of time within her Realm until the exact moment when she woke up.As a Primordial God of Time, Krona had all the knowledge and memories of his past, present, and future selves. The only variables in his life were Vahn, his immediate family members, and anyone who gained access to his sister's Realm from the 'outside'. For this reason, he was very fond of his family, as, for the most part, they were the only things that added even a hint of spice to his life.Understanding this, Vahn did his best to abide by any requests Krona made of him. This included speaking to Alaya on his behalf, but, before he could do that, he had to pacify yet another force of chaos. This one manifested in the form of a remarkably beautiful woman with inordinately long hair that cascaded from her scalp like a literal waterfall. Her eyes, radiation a pink glow, seemed capable of piercing through the very truths of the universe, but, far more noticeable than anything else was the skintight bunny suit and rabbit-like ears currently veiling her indescribably voluptuous body..."Vaaaaah, come play with me~"Unable to resist the woman's invitation, Vahn allowed her to pull him into an isolated sub-space, a dry chuckle emanating from his throat as he mused, "It's good to see you as well, Tia..."......(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'The Sage Dragon's Hearth is like one of those optional/secret dungeons you accidentally stumble upon in an RPG...','Xysteria is too precious for this world...','Vahn is powerless against the danger bun...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Though it was pretty common for her victims to simply ignore things like being stabbed, Hanako could tell Vahn was aware of it due to the fact he wasn't bleeding. Her powers allowed her to ignore conventional durability, and, thanks to the Law of the Assumed Form, even the most powerful Gods in existence were vulnerable whilst appearing as humans.Under normal circumstances, the people stabbed by Hanako would simply ignore the injury even as they bled out. The closest they would get to being aware of their plight is feeling weak or nauseous. It didn't matter if they were alone or surrounded by a group of people. Unless they possessed some form of extra causal sense, they shouldn't be aware of her actions. Such was the fate of the Lost and Forgotten."You knew I was going to stab you...?"Hearing Hanako's question, Musashi Pink's brows perked up as she looked towards Musashi Black and Kenshin, asking, "Are you for real? Did you actually believe you could just walk into the Sage Dragon's Hearth and assassinate Vahn? And I thought I was rash..."Recalling how she had once attempted to battle against Vahn head-on, a wry yet reminiscent smile developed across Musashi Pink's face...Confused by her counterpart's lack of hostility, Musashi Black sent Kenshin an accusatory look out of the corner of her eye as she coldly replied, "Someone neglected to inform me of this particular aspect of our plan..."Shaking her head, Kenshin did her best to appear calm as she explained, "You're mistaken...we did not come here with the intention to kill or cause harm. Our mission was to ascertain the true nature of Vahn Mason and the Sage Dragon's Hearth. If your Community is truly as neutral as you purport it to be, there is no reason for you to refuse your services to the Nine Dragons Sword Association..."Rising to his feet, Vahn removed Hanako's pitch-black dagger from his stomach before ruffling her hair and handing it back to her. Then, with a marginally more serious expression on his face, he met Kenshin's gaze, stating, "That isn't the only reason you were sent here. Hanako is unable to trespass the domain of another unless someone enters with the intention of seeking lost children. You must be aware of her existence, or, at the very least, aware of the possibility of her existence in order for her to manifest...""..."Realizing there was some truth to the rumors regarding Vahn's deductive omniscience, the tensions in Kenshin's body began to relax as a paradoxically oppressive yet serene aura began to exude from her body. The turquoise haori on her body, starkly contrasting the rest of her outfit, wasn't worn out of a sense of pride or braggadociousness. She was, at the present moment, the greatest among all mortal swordsmen, women, and everything in between. Her Origin also ascribed her with the ability to break through encirclements and shatter the ranks of her enemies, so, even if she was trapped in an inescapable prison, she could break free so long as the people within identified her as an enemy.Amused by the overly serious woman before him, a teasing smile developed across Vahn's face until he heard Musashi Pink muttered, "There he goes again..."Promptly deciding against teasing the fiery-eyed brunette, Vahn motioned towards the cushions he had prepared before returning to his seat, manifesting tea, and asking, "So? What, specifically, does the Nine Dragons Sword Association seek from my humble enterprise...?"Taken aback by Vahn's behavior, Kenshin found herself at a loss for how to respond. It didn't help that Musashi Black immediately followed Pink's example by taking a seat. As for Hanako, the only person still aware of her was Vahn. Kenshin knew she had to be around, but, unlike Vahn, she had very little affinity with beings possessing non-existent or acausal physiologies. Hanako wouldn't be able to kill her due to the differences in their Origins, but, unless the Demoness went out of her way to draw attention to herself, even omniscient deities would find it difficult to sense her. (A/N: Simply put, a Lost/Forgotten Child could never defeat a swordsman recognized as Peerless Under Heaven.)Deciding it was for the best if she continues with her mission, Kenshin returned Musashi's sword in an effort to remove the temptation from her heart before taking a seat and answering, "According to the rumors, the Sage Dragon's Hearth specializes in the production of Gifts. Similar stories credit you with the ability to awaken a person's hidden potential. We have unearthed substantial evidence to back these allegations, but, no matter how deep we dig, we have been unable to ascertain what, exactly, you expect in return. How does the Sage Dragon's Hearth benefit from empowering others? What is your aim?"Though they had conducted a thorough investigation into the Communities affiliated with the Sage Dragon's Hearth through the Burgeoning Communities Accord, the subsidiaries of Kotoamatsukami had failed to ascertain the reason behind Vahn's actions. It would have made sense if he was trying to build a rapport with the people of the Little Garden, but, looking at his most recent actions, that didn't seem to be the case. He also didn't actively communicate with or demand tributes from the Communities he assisted, so, while there was a possibility he would call upon them in the future, all evidence pointed to the fact that Vahn had helped them simply because he felt like it.Reinforcing this sentiment, Vahn just shrugged his shoulders, answering, "Everyone, be they good or evil, deserves the right to pursue strength if they're willing to work for it. The reason I don't care about benefits is that I have no need for them. As for my aims, well, I don't see how they are any of your concerns. Even if you did accept my offer, it wouldn't have anything to do with my penultimate goal, much less my final aspiration."Furrowing her brows, Kenshin asked, "You would empower the wicked in their pursuit of strength? Do you have no conscience?"Rolling his eyes, Vahn's expression became a mocking deadpan as he asked, "Really? You're going to lecture others on conscience when you willfully brought a Demon Lord that specializes in making children disappear into the home of someone who's never wronged you? It always amazes me how truly hypocritical you 'justice' types can be..."Unable to refute Vahn's words, Kenshin could only lower her head in shame, hands clenching into fists. She didn't like the thought of employing Hanako any more than Musashi did. It simply wasn't her decision to make...Resisting the urge to snort, Vahn briefly cast his gaze towards Hanako. A smile immediately spread across her face, as, despite trying to kill him, she didn't have any actual enmity toward Vahn. Killing people was just the most 'convenient' method to ensure there was always at least one person who remembered her. There were a number of other reasons as well, but, as those were significantly less pleasant, she did her best not to even think about them.Ruffling the marginally more mature-looking girl's hair, Vahn's expression gradually relaxed into a smile as he said, "Besides, you're mistaken about one thing. More specifically, I haven't explained to you the 'cost' of receiving my aid..."Retracing his hand from Hanako's head, Vahn met Kenshin's gaze, adding, "Anyone who signs one of my contracts accepts the inevitability of being wiped out the moment they come anywhere near my bottom line. Trying to eliminate 'evil' is a fruitless endeavor as even people such as yourself are capable of making exceptionally foolish decisions. Thus, rather than arbitrarily killing people I don't like, I place restrictions on them to make them act more in line with my principles. I provide them the means and opportunity to change. If they violate the terms of our contract after the fact, they only have themselves to blame for the consequences of their actions..."Tensing at the word 'consequences', the fiery glow in Kenshin's eyes became more prominent as she asked, "And what, exactly, are these consequences you speak of...?"Shrugging his shoulders, a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes spread across Vahn's face as he answered, "As I stated previously, I don't help people while expecting anything substantial return. If they violate our contract before the term expires, I will kill them without hesitation. I don't believe in imprisoning people, and, unless they committed some kind of heinous act against children, I see no merit in forcing people to suffer. I would rather just kill them and let the systems in place sort them out. Simple as that."Though Vahn's words might sound extreme, they were actually relatively tame in regards to the way most Gods dealt with their enemies. Nearly every major 4-Digit Faction had its own version of Hell, a place where their enemies and people who refused to abide by their will would be made to suffer for all of eternity. In that regard, killing was a mercy, as, more often than not, it simply meant being reincarnated or descending into a lower realm. This often meant losing your memories, but, unless the person who killed you went out of their way to remove your inborn powers or Gifts, they would persist even after reincarnation."I see...it would appear our Master may have misjudged you..."Following her words, Kenshin attempted to perform an apologetic dogeza but found herself barred by an invisible force. This briefly improved her impression of Vahn until he, in a tone reminiscent of Musashi Black, stated, "Mistaken as she was regarding the Sage Dragon's Hearth, Amaterasu is right to fear me. Soon enough, my Empire, the Aldrnari Empire, will span the entirety of the Divine Realm. I'm not particularly fond of the current state of affairs, so, unless they are willing to join me, Factions such as the Kotoamatsukami are bound to be shattered and subsumed. Thus, while I can appreciate your willingness to apologize, rest easy knowing there is no need. The moment she tasked you with inviting Hanako into my home, Amaterasu had already crossed my bottom line..."Though his tone and expression gave off the impression he was completely disinterested in the words coming out of his mouth, the aura exuding from Vahn's body caused even Musashi Pink to freeze in place. He might not have any enmity towards Hanako, quite the opposite, but Loi-chan had made him very aware of her powers and abilities.As the Demon Lord of the Lost and Forgotten, Hanako didn't even need to take personal action in order to make children simply spirit away. The only prerequisite was for a child to be neglected for even a moment. Then, unless the parent or guardian proactively searched for them, it would only take a few hours for them to forget they even existed.The most terrifying thing about Hanako's ability was that it wouldn't actually take the children away. Rather, from the perspective of the child, everyone would simply be ignoring them. They would still be able to interact with the world around them, but, even if they threw objects or violently attacked people in an effort to garner their attention, nothing would work. They would be lost and forgotten in a world filled with people. To make matters exponentially worse, the only people who could see them were Demons, Evil Spirits, and those who willfully predated on children. In their eyes, the Lost and Forgotten were a rare treat, as, even if they committed all manner of heinous acts right in front of other people, no one would notice...Though the odds of his children being spirited away were precisely 0%, Amaterasu had no way of knowing that. She knew it was a possibility, but, for the sole purpose of obtaining information, she sent Hanako into his home without regard for the consequences. After all, if the Lost and Forgotten couldn't be remembered, what consequences could there possibly be?She would learn the answer to that question very, very soon.........(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'SCP-1504 had a daughter...','Vahn almost had a relapse xD...','To be Lost and Forgotten is a fate worse than death...')https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu &lt;-(p.atreon link)paypal.me/EinlionDiscord Invite: https://discord.gg/Jwa8PKh

Chapter 2184: De-escalation