"Oh! There's a guest! Sorry about that. I'll take my leave for now."
I watch Yasaka facepalm while Serafall and her guards stare at my flight unit in awe. Yup, look at the masterpiece that is my Flight Unit. This bad boy is truly the creation of humanity. Well, it is the creation of the Androids, but they are creations of humanity, so this flight unit is a creation of humanity.
Anyway, the closest thing they possess is armor that transforms the user into a mech-like form. However, Balance Breaker is not a mech but instead an armor. It is not the same.
"You can join me, Ryan. We might as well report this to Lady Amaterasu and Lord Susanoo. He loves mecha, and you just brought one for him."
"This one is mine. I made it for myself. You also have another flight unit designed specifically for you and Kunou. I can make more for Lord Susanoo."
"I'll take your word for it, Ryan!"
I blink as someone suddenly appears in the middle of the garden. Ah. Looks like the gods are here. Zelretch must have dropped me the moment Serafall decided to visit—that blood-sucking old bastard.
I wonder what kind of meeting they will have. Oh, well. I don't really care about it. At the moment, I want to show off my mech.
"I'll need a few materials, but that shouldn't be a problem, Lord Susanoo. It should be done in about ten days. Twelve days at the slowest."
"Ten days, huh? Is that fast, or slow?"
"I'd say it's fast—above average, at least. I don't know how others make them, but I craft these from scratch. That takes time. Not only that, but I also need to ensure the Neural Link between the pilot and the mech works perfectly."
"Oh! Is it a wireless Neural Link, or do you need an implant to use the mech?"
Huh. I didn't know Susanoo loved sci-fi and mecha. You really do learn something new every day.
"It uses a wireless Neural Link to connect the pilot and the mech. However, there's a slight delay—about 0.2 seconds. It doesn't sound like much, but it takes time to get used to. It feels like something is wrong with your body while piloting it. I will try to lower the delay to the point that humans do not feel weird controlling the mech."
"I see. Interesting. What about armaments? What kind of weapons does this bad boy have?"
"Well, for one—"
"I need to stop you right there, Ryan Hernandes."
I turn and see Amaterasu appear in the garden, walking toward us. She shoots a glare at her brother and continues.
"Stop it, Susanoo. Once you get started, you'll take all night." She then looks at me. "He loves this sort of thing, dear. It's better not to let him get carried away."
Before I can respond, Susanoo glares back at his sister.
"What? I'm not like you, Ama! I know what you do in your free time! I know you watch—"
Before he can finish, golden light seals his mouth and coils around his body, lifting him into the air and carrying him toward Amaterasu. She smiles sweetly—far too sweetly. Then she turns to Serafall, and the smile vanishes.
"We invite you to the meeting room, Lady Serafall of the Devil Race."
She uses the royal we. Yeah… Amaterasu clearly doesn't like her presence. The Devil Race hasn't exactly been popular lately—outside of magicians still willing to form contracts with them.
Bigger factions? Nope. They hate their guts. The lesser Gods might tolerate them or even be friendly, but the Major Gods? Yeah… Some of them might not hate them outright, but they are never friendly. At best, tolerate. Only the Norse pantheon is friendly toward them, but lately, it is no longer the case, or at least it has become strained. I know Odin is still friendly toward them, but most of the Gods from the Norse Pantheon no longer hold the same friendly manner.
That's what happens when your kind repeatedly tries to resurrect and enslave people from other factions without consent or permission from the pantheon they belong to.
Anyone who worships a god enters that god's pantheon in the afterlife. Worshippers of Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades go to Elysium or the Underworld. Followers of Odin enter Valhalla, Fólkvangr, or Hel.
Now imagine one of your worshippers—maybe even a child from your pantheon—dies. You're ready to receive them and grant them the afterlife they deserve, only for someone to rip them away and resurrect them as a slave.
Yeah. The creation of Evil Pieces isn't met with applause—it's met with boos and fireballs to the face.
I watch Yasaka and the others walk away.
Welp. Does that mean I can slip out? I really don't want to sit through a meeting after a stressful day. I need my Asia-num and Kunou-num filled.
I expand my senses with Senjutsu and locate them immediately. They're training in the sparring room. Perfect! I can show off my new creation.
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|3rd POV|
"And with this, we have come to an agreement. We shall grant the Devil Race the right to return to Kuoh once again, albeit with additional restrictions. We shall also send observers to ensure your acting governors fulfill their duties."
Serafall nods as Amaterasu reads the terms aloud. She plans to advise her sister to take her new position even more seriously. Sirzech will also do the same. They can no longer think they can get away by ignoring many problems in their governed territory.
"Furthermore, Devilkind will be permitted to trade with the Western Youkai Faction, under certain conditions. Among them: no resurrection of individuals born under our sun without permission and explicit consent—free of thrall, charm, or external influence."
That, at least, is a victory.
Among the allowed trades is Senjutsu healing—the only healing method safe for her race, other than a few VERY rare methods. Conventional healing spells use energy that's harmful to devils. Instead of healing, it will hurt them and even act as poison to them.
Senjutsu is the only energy that is capable of curing injuries, illnesses, and even curses that her race gets inflicted by. Nature wants you whole, and it will ensure it happens. That means it will restore your body and soul to their original state.
That's why Sun Wukong is allowed to roam freely, even after his rampage through the Celestial Court. He's their greatest healer who can heal any creatures under the Celestial Court rule. No matter their nature, Senjutsu can heal them.
Being one of their strongest fighters helps, too.
Even after attaining Buddhahood, he maintained ties with the Celestial Court and the Jade Emperor. Though one of his pranks—convincing humans that the Jade Emperor and Śakra were the same being—caused endless headaches. Worship shifted toward Indra, weakening the Jade Emperor's influence.
Serafall remembers reading about the fallout. It nearly sparked a war between pantheons.
With this agreement, hospitals in the Underworld can now send dying patients here for treatment.
"In exchange," Amaterasu continues, "your race shall provide tribute to the Shinto and Youkai factions every month. All the goods are listed in the Pact Scroll."
Serafall nods. It stings, but it's worth it. It will hurt the Devil Race, but it will not hurt them too much, because in exchange, she receives a deal to hire Senjutsu users. That alone will appease the other nobles.
Among the items that are allowed to be traded are also help her case when she presents the result to the Council.
The reason why Amaterasu is asking for these goods is that she wants them to create new weapons, armor, and tools for their factions. It requires a rare metal that can only grow in the Underworld under the territory of Gremory, Agares, and Gamigin.
With the trade agreement, the Devil Race will send those rare metals, among other things, to the Youkai and Shinto factions every month. It is a good trade in her mind. It will hurt Devil Race just enough to make the Youkai feel good, but not too hurtful for the Devil Race to reject the offer.
As for them? The Shinto Faction receives a lot while offering almost nothing.
"Additionally," Amaterasu concludes, "the Familiar Forest shall be opened to Youkai and those bearing our blessing on designated days."
Serafall nods again.
"Then let this agreement be witnessed by the Sun and the Storm," Amaterasu declares. "Let it endure for millennia."
After several more formalities, the meeting adjourns.
As they step outside, they're greeted by an unexpected sight. Two mechs clash in the sky, moving at blinding speed, blades of light colliding midair.
The barrier around the meeting room had masked the noise, and that was why they did not hear anything from the inside.
Above the palace, the mechs duel fiercely. After a few minutes, one notices the group below and lands. The cockpit opens, and Kunou jumps out. Surprising her mother.
"Mother! Look at my new mech!"
Yasaka smiles weakly. Ryan is going to give her so many headaches.
She turns—and sees Susanoo already climbing into Kunou's mech.
She sighs.
That's a problem for future Yasaka.
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