Kiyoshi returned from another meeting. This is the second day in a row that he has been doing this. Yesterday, he spent several hours talking with the Demon Lord. The magical girl is an important ally and plays a huge role in the upcoming event. It is for this reason that they have been discussing and making plans to reduce losses for a long time. Serafall was able to confirm the phoenix's thoughts regarding Ajuka. The current Beelzebub has too strong a connection with Sirzechs and will not allow him to act against his best friend. Therefore, all upcoming actions will have to be carried out behind the backs of these two Demon Lords. In addition to enemies, allies in this conspiracy were also chosen, and Zankoku had to meet with them today.
Having finished with his business, Kiyoshi appeared at Hyakki Yakou's headquarters to pick up Erika. Due to his busy schedule, the blond decided to leave the girl in the care of his friend for a while. Since the little girl wanted to become like him and gain strength, the phoenix was not against teaching her his craft, but first it was necessary to obtain the basics of management and other important tedious work. Shinichi turned out to be the most suitable candidate for such a task while Zankoku himself was busy with more important matters.
Not finding them in the office, Kiyoshi asked the people present for the location of his target. As it turned out, some young and ambitious individuals decided to take advantage of the rising excitement in the ordinary world to get money and influence. They were going to deal with one of these gangs today. Seeing this as a good opportunity, Shin led a group of Hyakki Yako "operatives", demonstrating visual work to his young student. Having received the address, the blond moved to the scene, but the yakuza's mission was already completed — the culprits went to the hospital for a long time.
— What do you think? — Kiyoshi asked when he found the desired couple.
— I don't know, — the girl answered, lost in her thoughts. — I expected something more, but they didn't even have weapons. Just a couple of bats and a folding knife.
— Ha-ha! — Shinichi grinned, and Zankoku supported him. — You have too high expectations of simple punks and thugs. Most conflicts in small gangs are resolved with the help of such improvised means. We must keep an eye on such a contingent so that they don't get too rowdy, and when necessary, warn or deal with those who cross the line of what is permitted.
— Besides, we are in Japan, — the phoenix added. — This country is relatively strict with firearms. You need to have power and connections to get a weapon. It is almost impossible for an ordinary person to get a gun.
— I see, — she nodded, throwing away unnecessary thoughts. — Are we done for today?
— Yes, it's time to go back, — the blond approached the girl and stroked her head. — It's already time for lunch. Now you'll eat, rest a bit, and then it'll be time to study Japanese with Kumiko.
At the mention of classes, Erika winced. With the help of the translator amulet she had received, she could easily talk and understand those around her, but that was all. For a girl who grew up in Europe, Japanese writing seemed like simple squiggles, so she studied the alphabet and the basics of writing with Kumiko. No one required Erika to pass the school curriculum, but she had to learn to write and read simple sentences, because she would have to live in this country for a long time.
— Thanks for looking after her, Shin, you helped her out. — Before leaving, Kiyoshi said goodbye to his friend. — Let's go home. Kumiko should be back already.
— Okay. Goodbye, Shinichi.
Having moved home, the phoenix sent Erika to change clothes, and he himself went to the kitchen. There he found the dark-haired nekoshou finishing cooking. Her damp hair made it clear that the girl had recently taken a shower.
— Hello, darling, — the blond pulled his wife into his arms, kissing her gently on the top of her head. — Where are the other girls?
— Kiyoshi, nya, — Kuroka basked in her beloved's arms. — Akeno decided to accompany our kitten to training today. They should be back soon, — the girl said, purring softly.
Due to her high talent in senjutsu, Kumiko needs to train her skills. Three times a week, she goes to the nekomata village, where Magari and other adults teach the younger generation. Due to the importance of the basics and the restlessness of little kittens, all training is disguised as games and competitions, giving the children an incentive to improve.
— Then what were the two free cats doing?
— We trained all morning and only just finished, — these words made Kiyoshi experience mixed emotions. — And Shirone should be taking a bath now.
— I see, — the young man briefly sank into thought. — You know, after Asgard, I want to go to my city. We haven't visited grandma and grandpa for a long time.
— Great! I already miss them, — the brunette said happily. — Talking on the phone won't replace a real meeting.
— I agree, but before meeting them, I'm going to take each of my beloved wives on a date. I'll put all my business aside and be completely at the disposal of each of you for the whole day.
— It's about time, otherwise you've completely abandoned us, — the nekomata sobbed feignedly.
— Well, well, — the blond only smiled at his wife's actions. — as if I wasn't the one spending almost all my free time with my family.
— But we haven't gone on dates in a long time.
— That's why I'll make it up to you next week.
— Dad! Mom! I'm back! — a voice came from the hallway, ending the couple's conversation.
***
A significant day had arrived for many inhabitants of the supernatural world. Leaders and representatives of major mythologies gathered together at Odin's invitation. The meeting was scheduled in Asgard, the heart of the Scandinavian pantheon. Quite a few invitees had already gathered in the banquet hall of the majestic palace. Enjoying rich and varied dishes, the guests waited for the last latecomers, but no one complained. The Allfather had prepared a luxurious reception that could please everyone and help them pass the time pleasantly.
Most people were peacefully chatting with their companions or greeting acquaintances; some pestered the Valkyries who lined up along the walls of the room, ready to respond to any danger to the guests, or, like representatives of Shinto, stood slightly aloof and tasted the offered treats.
— Lord Susano, you shouldn't be so heavy on the alcohol, — the gray-haired youth said to his companion. — The meeting should start any minute now.
The god only chuckled at his remark, putting another empty glass on the table and taking a new one.
— You don't need to worry, brat, — the god of storms replied after taking a sip. — Drunken antics are the last thing you should expect from me. I get along well with alcohol and know when to stop.
— Then I won't bother you anymore, — the phoenix said calmly, looking around the room.
— You know, — Susano began after a short silence, — I don't quite understand why my sister puts so much pressure on you. Of course, you have managed to achieve a lot in a few years, but there are people stronger than you or smarter, — there was no envy or indignation in the man's voice, he simply said what he thought. — However, since Amaterasu decided to rely on you, then I will trust her opinion.
— Thank you. I will try to live up to the expectations placed on me.
— You don't have to be so formal with me. You can speak more openly. I value strength and am used to solving all my problems with it. Although you, like this fox, like to play behind—the—scenes games, you can act directly at the right moment. So I will fulfill my sister's request, being a simple complement and leave all the negotiations to you, so do not let down the honor of the Shinto pantheon.
— Ha, you could have not mentioned it, — Kiyoshi answered with a smile.
At that moment, a loud cry was heard from the other side of the hall. Everyone immediately turned their attention to its source, which turned out to be Thor. It seemed that the thunder god had entered into a verbal conflict with another Scandinavian god. According to the fragments of phrases coming from them, the culprit was Loki. The last thing Zankoku could hear was the phrase of the Valkyrie who came to calm them down: "Please, Lord Loki, you promised Lord Odin not to make a scandal today." After that, Loki left, clearly unhappy with the conversation that had developed.
— I wonder what they disagreed about, — the phoenix quietly muttered the question that interested him, not addressing anyone in particular, but unexpectedly received an answer from his companion.
— It is no secret that Loki wants Ragnarok to come, but the creation of an alliance is clearly delaying his dream.
— An unusual dream — to wish the end of the world on your pantheon.
— In order to begin to create something new, it is necessary to end the current way of life. Something like a cycle, — said the storm god Kiyoshi. — By the way, about the public scenes, do you want to sort out your problem? — Susano pointed at a certain man in the hall.
— Ha-ah, I really need to sort this out, — with a deep sigh, the blond looked at the representatives of the biblical faction.
— To borrow the words of that Valkyrie: don't make a scene here.
— I'll try, but I can't promise anything, — was the only thing Kiyoshi could answer to his god's mockery.
The blond slowly walked towards the man who had been frowning at him since his arrival. Next to him stood a young girl in a formal suit, complaining about something.
— Greetings, Levia-chan. Today is an important day, and you are without your pink battle outfit?
— Exactly! — the brunette exclaimed, ignoring the strange look of her companion. — Because of this whole bunch of old people, I was forced to dress "normally". Horrible!
— I am not surprised to see a diplomat of hell here, but, usually, you should be accompanied by one of your colleagues, — the phoenix threw numerous glances at the man next to her.
— The angels, for obvious reasons, are busy with more important matters. They left everything else to us, — Serafall said, slightly offended. — Ajuka, along with Azazel, locked themselves in the lab. Falbium is checking the readiness of the troops, including against the threat of an invasion by some eastern gods, — she looked suspiciously at Kiyoshi. — Sirzechs, like Shemhanzai, is in charge of managing internal affairs. That leaves only one suitable candidate — Barakiel.
— Serafall, why are you telling him all this? — the fallen one asked sullenly.
— I'm sick of you trying to bore a hole into him with your eyes. That's probably why he came here. So solve your problems with him and focus on the main reason we're here.
— That's right, — Kiyoshi supported the magical girl, changing the subject. — It's hard not to notice such a close gaze. So do you have something to talk about? What's the reason for such attention from you?
— I wanted to talk about Akeno, — Barakiel had been preparing himself for this conversation for a long time, but as soon as he started, the fallen one immediately became confused.
— What exactly are you going to talk about?
— I... I need to meet my daughter and talk. Akeno is in too much danger being around you. As long as she hasn't made any irreparable mistakes, I have the opportunity to return her to Grigori. No one will be able to demand that she be punished, I will protect my daughter, — the man looked at the boy's expressionless face. — If you care about Akeno's fate, then you should understand that she will be better off with her family. Besides, you shouldn't risk her in this losing war that you have started. Shinto has no chance against the combined power of the three biblical factions.
— Have you said everything? — Taking the silence for consent, the phoenix continued, — Then I also have something to talk about with you. It's rather strange that you only started worrying about Akeno's fate now. All these years, your daughter didn't bother you, but now, suddenly, you care.
— That's not true! I have always been worried about Akeno's fate.
— Then why haven't you met or contacted her even once during all this time?
— After I failed to save Shuri, she probably hates me, — the man's fists clenched with great force, at the mention of the past, — but now my daughter's life is at stake. If she continues to despise and hate me, then I am ready to agree. The most important thing is that she stays alive.
— You're right about that — Akeno, to put it mildly, does not like you, — Zankoku confirmed the thoughts of the fallen. — And I think it is not without reason. I can understand that because of work you were not at home during the attack on your family, — at these words, a sad smile flashed across the blond, — but where were you after that? Akeno wandered around the country for several months in search of a home and food. Hell, I met a ten-year-old girl who used her knowledge of onmyoji to get a job on the streets. At that time, she was happy with simple things like a warm bath and a soft bed, — Kiyoshi's voice was slightly contemptuous, directed at the interlocutor. — Where were you at that time? I'm sure the Grigori could easily find a little girl within a week. Even if she did not forgive you, you could provide her with a life separately from you in some house or apartment where there were friendly neighbors willing to help a lonely girl. And it does not matter that these neighbors will be undercover Fallen, carrying out the orders of their general. But the most disgusting thing is that you allowed Akeno to be turned into a demon, making her a slave, and then did not even try to take her or exchange her, as a last resort, to make sure of her safety.
Silence fell between the men. Barakiel digested what he heard, reproaching himself for his past actions and inactions. Kiyoshi took control of the negative feelings that arose from talking to this hypocrite.
— However, you don't need to worry about her safety. Akeno is a strong girl who would rather destroy the Grigori than join him. She truly hates the fallen angels. Besides, don't underestimate us. Perhaps you are the ones who have no chance. Also, — the phoenix was about to turn around and leave, but decided to add a few words at the end. — Right now, my wife is having a great time with her family.
Soon, Odin entered the hall, inviting everyone present to the next room. After everyone took their seats at the long table, Odin announced the start of the meeting.
— Thank you all for accepting my invitation and coming to the meeting today. Although it was because of a single group, after what happened with the Church and Heaven, no one can think of the Khaos Brigade as a simple organization anymore. — Everyone listened attentively to the Norse god, remaining silent. — Besides the obvious attack of evil dragons on angels, the activity of the hero faction has also been recorded all over the world. They have been recruiting, kidnapping, or simply killing users of sacred equipment, but there is something you may not know, — Odin's face was filled with anger. — They managed to sneak into Asgard and kidnap Fenrir.
The news they heard shocked many present. Each of them knows who Fenrir is and his powers.
— How is this possible? — asked the head of the Egyptian pantheon Ra. — This beast had the title of "Godslayer", how were they able to capture the divine wolf?
— We still do not know how they managed to get into Fenrir's lair unnoticed and get out with him, but I detected the effect of one of the fragments of Excalibur on the spot. Most likely, the intruders used a sword with the ability to subjugate someone else's will.
— Great, now they have another powerful character in their ranks, — Zeus said sarcastically. — We didn't need resurrected evil dragons. By the way, does anyone know how they managed it?
— I think the noisy boy from Shinto can help us with this question, — Odin looked at Kiyoshi with a grin. — Not long ago, he got his hands on the owner of the Grail, right under the noses of the fallen and devils.
Phoenix did not react outwardly to the attention of all those gathered, but inwardly he was irritated by the action of the Scandinavian god.
— It is true, — noticing Susano's silent approval, the blond answered. — I managed to get a dhampir with this mechanism, but there was an evil dragon next to her. According to him, he was supposed to guard the dhampir, but after a short fight, Crom Cruach retreated. Only after examining the carrier was it possible to understand the reason for his behavior. The Longinus had mutated — instead of a single cup, the mechanism had split into several parts, which had already been extracted before I arrived for the dhampir. With the cup, Rizevim could easily resurrect all of these dragons.
— Thank you for explaining, and what can you tell us about the heroes' strength? After all, as everyone knows, Kyoto was attacked by them.
— The entire faction consists exclusively of people with sacred mechanisms. Their goal is to exalt humanity by destroying supernatural beings. The backbone of the group is made up of descendants of famous figures from the past. A prime example is the leader Cao Cao and his deputy Georg Faust. Each of them wields a Longinus, True Longinus and Lost Dimension respectively, — whispers began in the room, but the blond was not finished yet. — The presence of the Creator of Destruction was also confirmed, but the identity of the owner is unknown.
— Hey, hey, having three longinus is no longer funny, but they are all the most problematic on the list, — Poseidon was not happy with what he heard, expressing the opinion of the others in his own words. — Not funny at all.
— Heroes with longinus, a bunch of evil dragons, the son of Lucifer and the devils supporting him, as well as many renegades from various factions. We should not forget about Ophis, who acts as a leader, but, fortunately, Ouroboros does not interfere directly, only sharing a part of his power, — the Allfather summed up. — As it has now become clear, this is not a threat that can be dealt with alone, so we should create a real alliance against the threat that has arisen. Not all those papers that were signed earlier, but a real alliance in which we will help each other if a threat from the Chaos Brigade arises.
The idea was accepted without objection, and the gods began to discuss the details. Everything was going relatively well until the Greek god proposed his own idea.
— How about we go beyond that? We could sign a peace treaty between all of our pantheons. Then, for the most part, no one would dare to start something like the Great War of the past. There would be peace.
— That might be a problem, — Kiyoshi countered this idealistic wish. — There is a war going on between Shinto and the Biblical Alliance right now. Our faction has too many grievances to brush it aside so easily. There can be no peace between us until we resolve our differences.
— Oh, what happened between you two? — Thor blurted out irritably. — A dispute over territory? Devils kidnapped a couple of youkai and experimented on them? Tried to kill you? All of that is nonsense! The lives of several mortals are not worth giving up on such an agreement.
The dismissive tone of the current head of the Norse Pantheon angered the phoenix. He carefully examined the reactions of the other participants. No one spoke, but their faces showed agreement with Thor's opinion. One watched with amusement. Kiyoshi suppressed his anger when he realized that Shinto was not taken seriously. They simply did not take their opinions into account. Meeting Susano's gaze for a second, the blond immediately made a decision.
— Then the Shinto faction refuses to participate in this alliance, — such a sharp answer stunned everyone. —No assistance will be provided. We will deal with the "Chaos Brigade" on our own territory. If someone interferes with our affairs with Christianity, they will greatly regret it.
— Why are you silent, Susano? Are you satisfied with everything he said?
— Ha! Aside from a much cruder formulation, my thoughts are in complete agreement with his, so we are leaving this place.
Everyone watched in surprise as the magic circle lit up under the Shinto representatives' feet and they disappeared.
— What an impudent brat! He's taking on too much, — Zeus said indignantly, once he had digested what had happened. — If they don't want it, then let them go. Let's see how these upstarts sing when they are attacked. Better tell me, why haven't the Hindus sent anyone here?
— Shiva has isolated his faction from the outside world for the last couple of years. He didn't say why he refused my invitation, but he wished us luck, because we'll need it, — Odin quoted. — Whatever that means.
— Indra has clairvoyant skills. Maybe he saw what's going on in the future, why their pantheon is behaving like this?
—I have tried to use some rituals for this, but the future is hidden from me. The powers of the Infinite Dragon God are blocking my view. Let us focus on the present matter rather than guessing at the future.