Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos

Though none of them intended to be the first to strike, the combat forces of several Communities had gathered outside the Gate containing Vahn's palace. No one yet knew the reason Vahn had been designated as a Last Embryo, so the Little Garden was abuzz with equal parts excitement and nervousness as everyone awaited an official statement/announcement.
As the journalists most commonly associated with the Aldrnari Empire, Katana and her sister, Dagger, took it upon themselves to prepare a stage and coordinate with other news/broadcast Communities. The pressure on them was monumental, but the duo could hardly contain their excitement as they rushed to get ready while their crews set everything up.
Much to the chagrin of the team helping with her makeup, Katana kept fiddling around with a tablet-like device as she asked, "Have we received any word from Shiroyasha-sama? As Floor Master of the East, she needs to issue an address of some sort."
Sitting much stiller than her sister, Dagger calmly replied, "Everyone we sent to make contact was turned away by Nadeshiko-san. This is pure speculation, but there's a good chance she's meeting with Vahn-sama as we speak."
Clicking her tongue, Katana muttered, "Lucky..." while swiping through messages on her tablet. Ever since the promotional Gift Game that saw the creation of the Aldrnari Empire, her fame and influence had soared beyond compare. She was also a member of Thousand Eyes, so she now had contacts throughout the Little Garden. Someone had to know the circumstances surrounding Vahn being designated as a Last Embryo, so she was determined to uncover the 'truth' and break the story as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, while there were numerous reports of incidents happening in the South, there was nothing concrete for Katana to report. There was a considerable amount of information related to Vahn's actions in the Nine Realms and Underwood, but the odds of that having anything to do with the present situation were slim.
Feeling increasingly anxious, Katana attempted to send another private message to one of her contacts in the Sage Dragon's Hearth, Seraphina. She had identified the bubbly Succubus as an easy mark after witnessing the latter's performance during the promotional Gift Game, and she had been correct. All it took was a few complimentary words, and the two had been 'good friends' ever since.
Under normal circumstances, Seraphina would have happily shared a few tidbits of information with Katana. However, as Vahn had yet to gather all of them together and explain the situation, she was presently ignoring all of Katana's messages. She didn't mind gossiping, but there was no way in hell she would betray Vahn by speculating about things she had yet to be apprised of.
Seeing a little green check mark pop up to indicate that her message had been read, Katana waited for several seconds before grinding her teeth in frustration. She hated being ghosted, but she risked losing Seraphina as a contact if she lashed out at her.
Just as Katana was seriously considering smashing her tablet against the shelf beneath her vanity mirror, several gasps alerted her to the fact that Vahn had appeared out of thin air. When she saw his reflection, her eyes practically lit up as she spun around and exclaimed, "Your Majesty! We've been waiting for your arrival...!"
Shooing away her makeup team, Katana habitually pulled out a recorder, holding it up to Vahn as she asked, "I know this is a bit early, but care to make a statement about the circumstances leading up to your designation as a Last Embryo? The entire Little Garden wants to know."
Returning a casual smile, Vahn answered, "It's good to see you as well, Ms. Katana, Ms. Dagger. I understand things have been going well for you these past couple of months...?"
Clicking off the recorder, or at least pretending to, Katana adopted a narrow-eyed smile, her voice gaining a husky quality as she replied, "No small thanks to Your Majesty's recommendation. I couldn't have dreamed of reaching this point a year ago. I wonder if there's anything me and my sister can do to thank you~?"
Having shared a bed with the two sisters in the past, Vahn would be lying if he said he wasn't tempted by Katana's offer. Unfortunately, he had more pressing matters to attend to, chief among them being the crowd outside and the tens of trillions waiting to hear his version of events.
Shifting his gaze between the two sisters, Vahn replied, "Some other time, perhaps. For now, I've come to issue a statement. How soon can you and your team be ready?"
Though he could easily issue a statement on his own, Vahn had promised Katana and Dagger exclusive rights to any breaking stories related to the Aldrnari Empire. He was effectively grooming them into Poets to serve the Empire's interests, but they happily obliged as it was nearly impossible to attain a comparable status on their own.
Without missing a beat, Katana crossed her arms and confidently replied, "Don't look down on my team and me. We're prepared to broadcast the moment you're ready. Heck, we even have a test audience and studio on standby if you want to rehearse your speech and broadcast a recording."
Piggybacking off of her sister's words, Dagger added, "Due to the rules and restrictions listed in the Geass Roll, we factored in the possibility of a riot breaking out if you were to issue a statement in public. Our ratings would skyrocket if an incident were to occur, but the decision is yours to make."
"Hmmm..."
Shifting his intent to the crowd outside, Vahn looked for any indications that someone might actually attack. The central forces of several 4-Digit Communities were present, but his performance during the promotional Gift Game should cow most of them. In other words, unless someone like Indra were to show up to lead the charge, they were just there to see how things played out.
Earning smiles from the two sisters, Vahn mused, "So many people have gathered to hear what I have to say. It would be rude of me not to make an appearance."
Pumping her fist, Katana exclaimed, "Now that's what I'm talking about!" before storming out the dressing room and shouting, "Everyone, get your asses in gear! We're about to go-"
Before Katana could finish ordering her people into their places, the sky overhead darkened as a beam of light more radiant than the Sun struck the building they had erected to prepare for the shoot. A peculiar silence followed the moment of impact before a sphere of destruction enveloped several kilometers in the surroundings, annihilating virtually everything it came into contact with.
Though the Thousand Eyes Community had seized the initiative to set up the primary broadcast, dozens of other broadcasting Communities were present to speculate and report on the event. News related to the Aldrnari Empire was a hot topic in the Little Garden, so more than seven hundred billion people had already tuned in, patiently awaiting Vahn's appearance and address. Instead, people throughout the Little Garden were horrified to see the destructive sphere envelope, not just the building Vahn was in but several others unrelated to the Aldrnari Empire.
Acting quickly, the Leaders of several 4-Digit Communities teleported around the expanding sphere of light, containing it before it could cause even more destruction. At the same time, Amaterasu herself appeared in the sky, high above the devastation. The explosion had been caused by a 'satellite' hovering just below the barrier surrounding the Little Garden, so she took it upon herself to ensnare the construct before it could do more damage. Her first instinct was to eradicate it, but she figured Vahn might want to analyze it to uncover the parties responsible for the attack.
After sealing the peculiar satellite within a hand mirror, Amaterasu was about to return to the ground and assist in suppressing the destructive sphere of light. The moment she looked down, however, an 'as expected' smile developed across her face as she saw the sphere slowly retracting.
Though Vahn would ordinarily be unable to affect the territories of other Communities without violating the Laws of the Little Garden, his status as a Last Embryo permitted him to ignore such restrictions. He was unable to prevent the attack, but he was able to expand his domain faster than the explosion could consume its surroundings. As a result, everyone watching the broadcast was privy to the scene of him 'rewinding time,' restoring not just the buildings but the people inhabiting them.
After compressing the energy from the blast in the palm of his hand, Vahn turned to Katana and Dagger, an apologetic smile on his face as he asked, "Are the two of you okay...?"
As Vahn had permitted them to keep their memories of the event, neither of the sisters immediately responded to his inquiry. They were still a little shaken by the sensation of having their bodies instantaneously vaporized. There had been no pain, but there was a brief moment of 'awareness' that followed the obliteration of their bodies, almost like their spirits remained, unable to believe what had transpired.
Absorbing the ball of energy into his body, Vahn repurposed it using his Godhand before unleashing it as an invisible force into his surroundings. A potent warmth immediately pervaded the bodies of everyone affected by the explosion, including the two sisters. It didn't erase the impression that they had just been obliterated, but it helped them calm down enough for Katana to respond, "I'm...I mean, we're okay..."
Looking to Dagger for confirmation, Katana regained a bit of her vigor as the former returned an affirmative nod and said, "We should hurry up with the broadcast. The longer we delay things, the more time other networks have to speculate."
Unwilling to let such a tremendous scoop fall into the hands of another, an illusory fire appeared in the depths of Katana's eyes as she returned to what she was doing previously, shouting, "Double time, people! This is the scoop of the century! Move it, move it, move it...!"
With Katana rushing out of the room, Dagger allowed her body to go limp, nearly falling to the ground. Instead, she fell directly into Vahn's arms, the latter appearing next to her with a gentle smile on his face as he said, "It's going to be okay. I'll never let anything like what just occurred happen again. I promise..."
Feeling Vahn's warmth fill her body, the lingering sense of dread in the back of Dagger's mind promptly vanished. She might dress boldly and act cocky around others, but she lacked the same confidence that permitted her sister to pursue a dream most people considered impossible. She was the type that just went with the flow, so the moment Katana departed the room, her facade naturally crumbled.
Fortunately for Dagger, while Vahn was undoubtedly pressed for time, he could spare a few minutes to help her recover. At the same time, another version of himself appeared outside the hideout of the group responsible for the satellite. They believed they could sow discord by hacking into one of the White Raven Community's satellites and using it to attack him, so he intended to teach them a hard lesson before leaving their fates in the hands of the Communities caught in the crossfire.
Sensing Vahn's aura, the face of one of the people hiding underground contorted into one of disgust. They had warned their companions about angering Vahn at this crucial juncture, but their advice had been ignored. Now, even though they had only recently escaped from Vahn's clutches, they, once again, found themselves beneath the luminous golden gaze of the Sage Dragon Emperor...
"Fucking Hel..."
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Never hurts to have a good PR Team...','Amaterasu lookin' for headpats...','You dun goofed...')

After briefly considering his approach, Vahn brought his hands together before spreading them as if opening a book. As he did so, the ground unfolded away from itself in a non-destructive manner, almost like the pages of a pop-up book.
Interrupting Vahn's actions, at least for a short moment, a massive wolf comprised of darkness and flames lurched toward him, its maw opening to reveal a magmous interior framed by glowing, white-hot teeth.
Though it started off around the size of a large dog, the wolf was nearly the size of a small mountain by the time it reached Vahn. Several spears, swords, and other piercing weapons adorned its back like the quills of a porcupine, and, due to the intense heat contained within its body, most of its fiery, fur-covered frame appeared translucent.
Recognizing the beast as the legendary Garm, guardian of Hel, Vahn took a moment to admire it before raising his right hand, smiling as he made a grasping motion.
Just as Garm was close enough to snap its maw around Vahn's frame, an invisible source surged into its body. 0.02 seconds later, its colossal frame had been reduced to the size of a wolf pup.
Catching the startled and confused pup out of the air, Vahn cradled it in his left arm like an infant, gently scratching its chin as he said, "Behave. I'll return you to your original form once I've disciplined your master."
Though it was tempted to bite Vahn's finger, Garm immediately became docile. It was widely regarded as one of the most prideful and malicious creatures in the Nine Realms, but it was intelligent enough to know things wouldn't end well if it attempted to oppose someone that could restrict its power with a casual wave of their hand.
Seeing Garm rotate their head to the side in an obvious attempt to appear cute, a soft chuckle emanated from Vahn's throat. He was half-tempted to tease the fiery-breasted beast further but promptly decided against it as a dreadful aura emanated from the depths of the parted ground, followed by the appearance of a rather frightening woman surrounded by several demonic-looking individuals and a veritable horde of hellish beasts.
With half her body resembling a breathtakingly beautiful woman and the other half a rune-covered skeleton, Hel, the Norse Goddess of Death, was a scary sight for anyone unaccustomed to the macabre. Odin had cursed her after a failed attempt to conquer Midgard and the Nine Realms, so her outer appearance, once considered the most beautiful in the Nine Realms, perennially reflected her innermost qualities.
Glaring at Vahn with her singular, pitch-black eye, Hel practically growled, "Vahn Aldrnari Mason...why have you invaded my Helheim? I do not recall extending you an invitation."
Adopting an impassive gaze, Vahn replied, "I am capable of knowing your most private, innermost thoughts. Don't think you can talk your way out of this, Hel. I promised consequences to anyone who wantonly targeted the innocent, and I'm here to make good on my word."
Narrowing her eye, Hel retorted, "Am I supposed to be intimidated? I have suffered all forms of punishment ten-thousand times over and have been cursed to watch over this Realm of death and corrosion for eternity. Even if you were to tear me apart and erase my existence, you would simply be freeing me from my suffering, dooming another to take my place."
Halfway through her retort, Hel manifested an eerie black claymore that exuded an abyssal black, highly corrosive ooze. She might be a prisoner within her own Realm, but that didn't detract from her status as a Principal Goddess of Death. Even Odin dared not face her directly.
Though he was half-tempted to remove Hel's curse, allowing her a moment of reprieve before her death, Vahn concluded that would be a little too extreme. Instead, he shifted his gaze to the androgynous figure hovering in the air next to Hel, earning a disgusted look from the ghostly-haired individual as he asked, "How do you suppose I should handle this, Loki...?"
"Ugh...seriously, man? You know I was against this from the start. Why'd you have to draw attention to me? Couldn't you have just let me slip away without saying anything...?"
"You despic-"
Angered by Loki's words, Hel brandished her eerie black claymore with the clear intention of cutting her father/brother/sister down. Loki was the type of entity that never stayed dead for long, so Hel felt no qualms about killing them whenever she was angry or upset.
Shifting their attention to Hel's blade, Loki showed no signs of fear or panic as they raised their hand to grasp the edge directly. The flesh of their palm sizzled as their hand and forearm visibly decayed, but they showed no indications of discomfort as they exhaled a weary sigh and muttered, "How troublesome..."
As it was rare for Loki to offer any meaningful resistance, a surprised look marred the faces of Hel and her subordinates. Ever since their initial death at the hands of Heimdall, Loki had made minimal effort in their day-to-day life. They still plotted and schemed, but, understanding the 'system' was rigged against them, they rarely exerted themselves.
Taking advantage of Hel's stupefaction, Loki returned their gaze to Vahn and replied, "Killing us has no meaning. Unless you can completely erase our legend, wiping all iterations of us from existence, other versions of us would inevitably pop up. If you want my advice, you should defeat us in a Gift Game, broadcasting it to the entire Little Garden as a deterrent."
Though she recovered her senses long before Loki was finished speaking, Hel waited until the very end before hissing, "You despicable piece of shit! How dare you try to curry favor with the enemy...!"
Rolling their eyes, Loki dryly retorted, "I know your brain is half-rotted, but even a complete dullard would understand the futility of scheming against a guy capable of taming those three tree-hugging giantesses. So long as we're affiliated with the Nine Realms, he knows everything about our past, present, and future. Believing we could trick him into attacking the Nine Realms was beyond stupid."
Sidestepping Hel's attempt to cut them in half, Loki adopted one of their characteristic expressions of disgust before dissolving away, reappearing next to Vahn. They knew attempting to teleport away was pointless since Vahn could pull them across Realms, so Loki determined that the 'safest' place was at his side.
With Loi-chan revealing that Loki had absolutely no intention of trying to backstab him, Vahn just gave the ghostly-haired Jotun a sidelong glance before returning his attention to Hel and asking, "How about it? It doesn't matter to me, so the question is whether or not you want to die fighting or if you want to die a dog's death."
Though it might seem contrary to publicize their defeat/death to the Little Garden, it was far more beneficial than dying in obscurity. Going out with a bang, even if you suffered a crushing defeat, left a lasting impression on the hearts and minds of others. This strengthened the Fragment of Origin possessed by many Gods and Goddesses, so, even if they were killed, they would eventually be revived or replaced by a version of themselves with comparable power and purpose.
Gritting her teeth, Hel didn't need to consider Vahn's proposal for very long before answering, "The denizens of the Nine Realms are no cowards. We shall fight and die with glory...!"
Hearing their leader/mother's response, several of the demonic-looking individuals hovering around her showed reluctant expressions. They were willing to fight and die for their cause, but they failed to see how fighting Vahn benefitted their penultimate aim. If anything, it would set them back millennia...
Sensing the reluctance from some of her children, Hel adopted a hateful glower as she turned to them and said, "If you wish to flee, then flee. Just know that if you do, each of my incarnations will seek vengeance against you without fail."
Imagining being haunted by Hel's vengeful spirit for all eternity, the looks of reluctance faded from her subordinate's faces. Vahn was half-tempted to point out he could completely annul any curses she might inflict upon them, but, understanding they weren't exactly innocent in Hel's schemes, he allowed them to be cowed into the conflict.
Releasing Garm from his grasp, allowing it to return to its original form, Vahn said, "We already have a venue set up outside the Aldrnari Empire's primary Gate. I will explain the situation and give you until then to make a formal request for a Gift Game. If you fail to do so before then...well, let's just say, even my patience has its limits."
Finished with what he had to say, Vahn vanished into thin air alongside Loki. He didn't teleport with them, but, understanding Hel would give them grief, Loki timed their departure alongside Vahn's, making it appear as though they had been abducted. Their actions wouldn't let them avoid the Gift Game, but they would at least be able to enjoy some peace and quiet before their inevitable death.
Seeing Loki disappear, black miasma began to exude from Hel's body as she trembled with rage. If not for the precarious predicament they had found themselves in, she would have immediately recalled Loki to teach them a lesson. Instead, she bottled up her anger, turning to one of her subordinates and saying, "Inform Surtr. We will have our Ragnarok, one way or another..."
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Contrasting the increasingly chaotic atmosphere outside, the interior of the Sage Dragon's Hearth was comparably tranquil. Most of Vahn's wives and lovers had returned to hear the explanation regarding his designation as a Last Embryo, but none were particularly concerned about it. After all, it was Vahn they were gathering to discuss. Even if he suddenly replaced the Demon Dragon God as the 'Absolute Evil,' they knew it was ultimately just a title thrust upon him by others.
Demonstrating just how little they were concerned by the events taking place outside, the atmosphere within the Sage Dragon's Hearth was like an impromptu reunion. Some of the girls hadn't seen each other for years due to time shenaniganry, so it was an excellent opportunity for them to catch up while Vahn discussed the specifics with the Council of Wives.
Fortunately, while girls like Eva gave Vahn a rather severe chiding, even she couldn't blame him for taking out someone like Zeus. The main reason she and many others were upset was that the rules and restrictions of the Gift Game made it so that they couldn't help him. They were accustomed to Vahn handling things independently, but it was frustrating to know they couldn't help him in any overt manner.
Though he understood the girls' concerns, Vahn was secretly happy with the way things had turned out. Sure, there were a ton of easily exploitable loopholes within the rules established by the Central Network, but a bit of diligence was all it took to counteract them. He still needed to be careful when transitioning into the Inner Gates, but he already had thousands of countermeasures against everything from identity acquisition to existence erasure.
As an extra precaution, Vahn convened with Da Vinci and Will to discuss additional measures while the impromptu reunion took place. He might be supremely confident in his strength, but every single Master he had been blessed with had taught him the importance of never underestimating his foes. Three years of due diligence was a small price to pay for a veritable eternity of security, so Vahn didn't mind putting his nose to the grindstone and focusing on his objectives...
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'They're good dogs, Brent...','Hel hath no fury like a woman scorned...','Vahn activated the Cheat Engine 64-bit...')

Without removing her hands from Shiroyasha's breasts, Queen Halloween asked, "Ara? Why so hostile? We're all friends here, right~?"
Instead of answering Queen's words, Vahn looked to Shiroyasha to see what she had to say on the matter. In response, she just exhaled a tired sigh, explaining, "Technically speaking, she has the right to touch and caress me, so long as it's in private. I'd rather not get into the specifics..."
Amused by Shiroyasha's response, Queen gave her a firm hug and mused, "Is there any reason to keep it a secret? With his power, the Sage Dragon Emperor can surely uncover the truth, no~?"
Shaking her head, Shiroyasha stared directly at Vahn as she said, "No, he isn't the type to probe into a woman's past. Not without a good reason, at least..."
"Hmmm..."
Moving her hands from Shiroyasha's breasts to her belly, Queen directed her heterochromatic green and blue eyes at Vahn, remarking, "That would explain his actions since arriving in the Little Garden. It doesn't, however, explain your reasons for summoning him. The plan Canaria drafted wasn't without flaws, but it's the closest thing we had to a guaranteed resolution. Placing your trust in someone else after everything we've sacrificed...just what were you thinking?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Shiroyasha replied, "There's no such thing as a guaranteed resolution. As for what I was thinking? Well, I saw the power Vahn possessed and determined he would be able to achieve comparable results without the need for so many sacrifices. Looking at the conditions specified by the Central Network in his Last Embryo setting, it's apparent I'm not the only one that came to that conclusion."
Understanding who Shiroyasha was alluding to, Queen softly muttered, "Laplace..." before blinking back to awareness, meeting Vahn's gaze, and asking, "How long do you intend to continue standing there? Please, take a seat."
"..."
Though he was tempted to retort, Vahn ultimately sat across from Queen and Shiroyasha after exchanging glances with Scathach. She smiled back at him, but he could tell she was prepared to leap into action the moment things escalated. Not that it would make much of a difference...
After taking his seat, Vahn attempted to justify Shiroyasha's actions, stating, "Even if Shiroyasha hadn't summoned me, I would have found my way into the Little Garden. Seizing the initiative to invite me was probably the best decision she could have made."
Instead of refuting Vahn's words, Queen replied, "I agree. Had you been allowed to act and roam freely, I imagine many more Communities would have fallen before you reached this point."
Squeezing Shiroyasha's body, Queen's eyes glistened with a mischievous light as she appended, "What bothers me is that I wasn't consulted on the matter. Though I can't imagine my chagrin in anywhere near as developed as Indra's, having someone I treasure taken away from me is more than a little...shall we say, vexing?"
In an effort to prevent misunderstandings, Shiroyasha followed Queen's words by declaring, "This she-devil has always had an obsession with the Sun. Back when I first entered the Little Garden, she used to stal-"
Narrowing her eyes, Queen brought her lips to Shiroyasha's pointed ear and whispered, "Now, now, Shiroyasha. We're not here to talk about the past, are we? If so, I have quite a few stories to share..."
After an involuntary shudder, Shiroyasha promptly decided to change topics, asking, "So, what now? I know it's only been a few hours since our last discussion, but I imagine things have changed rather drastically since your designation as a Last Embryo."
Shaking his head, Vahn answered, "Not really. If anything, this just makes things more clear-cut. Previously, I had to put on airs and worry about the people around me being targeted. Now, until I'm dealt with, my would-be enemies have no choice but to focus their efforts on me."
Inserting herself into the conversation, Queen remarked, "That's one of the things that surprised me. While it is common for the Central Network to pit the entire Little Garden against a Last Embryo, this is the first time Laplace has shown such...favoritism. If I didn't know better, I would say she is conspiring with you to ensure everyone becomes an affiliate of the Aldrnari Empire. I can easily imagine weaker Communities flocking to join you en masse, either for protection or to avoid the conflict entirely."
Piggybacking off Queen's words, Shiroyasha asked, "Speaking of which, you should probably prepare a battlefield of some sort. The Restrictions state that those affiliated with you can't be targeted, but there is such a thing as collateral damage. So long as they can confirm you're inside, an assailant could, theoretically, drop a bomb on the Sage Dragon's Hearth without violating the restrictions."
Furrowing his brows, Vahn noted, "That's a pretty massive loophole..."
Shrugging her shoulders, Shiroyasha replied, "Well, you have just been designated as a Last Embryo. From the perspective of those who don't know you well, you are a threat to all of Creation. With stakes like that, a lot of people are going to be aiming for your head."
Nodding her head in approval, Queen added, "There is another matter you must consider. The Restrictions make no mention of infighting. You'll need to be cautious of people infiltrating the Communities that wish to join the Empire. A number of Demon Lords possess Gifts that let them inhabit the hearts and minds of others. Many others can circumvent the Restrictions of the Game by instigating their own. That is one of the principal benefits of becoming a Demon Lord."
Realizing things weren't nearly as clear cut as he initially believed, Vahn slumped his shoulders and exhaled a sigh. Shiroyash and Queen hadn't really gone into it, but he also realized that his enemies could target him 'indirectly' by attacking Communities that had yet to join the Empire. He could easily deal with those responsible, but there was little he could do about the victims that would pile up out of spite...
Unable to contain herself, an amused smile blossomed across Queen's face as she mused, "My, did Shiro-chan really place her faith in such a wretched man~? You're the Sage Dragon Emperor, a being that garners fear and respect from even the greatest Gods. This outcome is the direct consequence of your actions. Don't expect us to console you when you're the one that set himself upon this path."
Raising his brows, Vahn gave Queen a somewhat incredulous look as he remarked, "I know you're a sadist, but give me a break...I never asked for any of this. I'm just doing what I can to reunite with my family..."
Adopting a slightly grim expression, Queen looked down at Shiroyasha and asked, "What's going on here? Has the Sage Dragon Emperor always been such a...despicable lot?"
Though she felt a little sorry for Vahn, Shiroyasha adopted a wry smile as she replied, "I know what you mean. Even I don't fully understand the reason behind his sentiments at times. Still, that's not necessarily a bad thing. It's proof that, despite all his power, he's still 'human' at the core of his being."
"Ah..."
Redirecting her gaze to Vahn, Queen did her best to view him through the lens of 'humanity.' In that regard, Vahn was actually rather commendable, as, more often than not, humans with power readily exploited it. Vahn was guilty of much the same, but he was at least aware of his position and the consequences of his actions.
Regaining her smile, Queen mused, "Now I understand. You're aiming for the top, not to rule, but to 'escape' the rule of others. You desire freedom but possess sufficient empathy to afford others the same right. In other words, letting you conquer the Little Garden is the same as freeing it from the control of machine-like beings who only care about Creation itself, not the form in which it takes. How utterly irresponsible~."
Imagining the conflict that would arise when Vahn invariably abdicated his position and abolished the current system, Queen Halloween couldn't help feeling excited. She absolutely abhorred war and slaughter, but the change such conflicts brought about was necessary for the development and survival of humanity. In other words, Vahn wasn't a true Last Embryo. If anything, his existence would allow them to transition into a new Order without needing to bring a finite end to the present reality...
Clapping her hands together, much to Shiroyasha's chagrin as they were right in front of her face, Queen added, "Very well, then~! I'm still a little annoyed that you derailed so many of my plans, but I accept Shiroyasha's decision to entrust the fate of the Little Garden to you. Feel free to make a mess of things. Ufufufufufufu~."
Before Vahn could respond, Shiroyasha interrupted, asking, "And what are you going to do? As someone possessing numerous Sun Authorities, your 'assistance' is necessary to achieve Vahn's goal."
"Hmmmm~?"
Tilting her head to the side, Queen stared at Vahn with a mischievous smile on her face, almost as if she were daring him to affirm Shiroyasha's words. When he didn't do so immediately, she questioned, "Is that really the case? So long as I don't conspire with others to rob you of your Sun Authorities, I doubt anyone will be able to stop him before he reaches the Gatekeeper. If he can't overcome that particular nuisance, I don't see any reason to join forces and risk jeopardizing my 'integrity' as a woman. Make no mistake; I am 'very' interested in the man who managed to conquer my Shiroyasha. However, it's not to the extent I'm willing to subject myself to his whims and desires."
As someone with a strict preference for women, Queen would never admit it, but she was actually afraid of Vahn. When Shiroyasha initially appeared in the Little Garden, she invested considerable time, effort, and resources into ensuring they had similar preferences. Queen couldn't have imagined Shiroyasha with a man before Vahn's arrival, so being in the same room as he made her more than a little nervous.
Without missing a beat, Vahn responded, "That's fine by me. It's not like I go out of my way to 'collect' women. I also don't really need your help, so I suppose this is the end of our discussion? You three have fun..."
Rising to his feet, Vahn was prepared to leave but found his path blocked by Scathach. She knew she had no hope of stopping him if push came to shove, but that didn't prevent her from adopting a professional smile as she placed her hand over her heart and said, "Please remain seated until my Mistress has finished speaking."
Raising his brows, Vahn was tempted to ask Scathach who she thought she, or, more specifically, her Mistress, was but promptly decided against it. He knew she wasn't intentionally trying to offend him, so he returned a smile and replied, "That depends." before turning around and asking, "Was there anything else...?"
Though she was a little annoyed by Vahn's sudden effort to leave, Queen maintained a calm and composed demeanor as she replied, "I would have liked to continue conversing for a while longer. However, if you have other places you need to be, I'll not keep you."
Understanding exactly why Vahn was in a hurry, Shiroyasha added, "Stop by once things have calmed down. As Floor Master, people will expect me to address the matter of your designation as a Last Embryo. We'll discuss the specifics when you return."
Nodding his head, Vahn offered a curt "Thanks." before turning around to face Scathach. Then, as a rather sizeable crowd had begun to gather near his palace, he adopted a squinty-eyed smile and disappeared into thin air.
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(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'That privilege...','Few things are rarely as simple as they first appear...','Queen is afraid that her 10,000+ years of lesbianism is at risk xD...','

Chapter 2325: Public Relations