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53.53% Endless Path : Infinite Cosmos / Chapter 1261: Futility

Capítulo 1261: Futility

Despite having claws at her throat, Aoko just raised her hands in a surrender gesture, an awkward smile on her face as she stated in a mock-casual manner, "Hey now, there is no reason to be like this. I'm sorry, okay...?"

If she went all out, Aoko would be able to extricate herself from this situation but, as it wasn't her intention to actually start a fight, she decided to try and diffuse things. Fortunately, Vahn brought a swift end to the tensions by saying in a firm yet casual tone, "Stand down. Fenrir, let go of Aoko's neck."

Artoria, Gawain, Kenshin, and Lakshmibai all pulled their swords away but, despite being told to stand down, none of them sheathed their weapons. As for Fenrir, she obediently released Aoko's neck before trotting over to her Master's side. Vahn habitually rubbed her head and ears with a wry smile on his face as he looked over at Aoko and said, "Our words were a little childish so we cannot hold you solely accountable for this situation. For the time being, let's say we set this matter to rest and let bygones be bygones...?"

Aoko was listening to Vahn's words but, at the same time, she rubbed the tiny pockmarks on her neck where Fenrir's claws had pricked her skin. With her durability and resistances, she was surprised that the rather adorable little wolf-girl was actually able to injure her. She could even take on direct fire from high-caliber rifles without sustaining any injuries so she was a little taken aback by how sharp the little girl's claws were.

In response to Vahn's compromise, Aoko returned a wry smile of her own as she said, "Sure. That sounds good. I actually wouldn't mind fighting everyone here but I don't really want to make any enemies. Sorry if I offended any of you..."

Before the conversation could progress any further, Solon interrupted by saying in a dull tone, "We should not dawdle here. If you want to talk, we should move to a more private venue. If not, I would rather you all leave the Clock Tower, preferably without returning."

Solon felt that things had been going downhill for them ever since Vahn's arrival in this world. Every time something troubling happened, he always seemed to be at the center of everything. Though it was also true that the Association had been in need of reform for a long period of time, Solon didn't really want to deal with it. Their primary concern was preserving Magecraft and preventing Mystery from fading away on the Surface. They didn't care what the families affiliated with the Association were up to, so long as it did not directly bring trouble to the Clock Tower. In hindsight, this was a big mistake but, before someone like Vahn appeared, they didn't have to worry about it...

There were several things that Vahn wanted to discuss but, knowing there were far more important things going on, he ultimately shook his head and stated, "A discussion between the Empire and the Association will take place in the near future. For now, we have other matters to deal with. I'm certain it will be more convenient for the Association to address the matter of the Barthomeloi family before things get further out of hand so we won't trouble you any further today. I'll leave the scheduling of our meeting to the Wizard Marshall."

Having expected Vahn to insist on negotiating immediately, as the Empire currently had leverage against the Association, Solon was at a momentary loss as to how they should respond. Fortunately, Zelretch had greater composure so, without missing a beat, the elder Magus smiled before saying in an aged voice, "We appreciate your consideration, Your Majesty. This matter will not take too long to resolve so I will personally alert the Edelfelt family once the details have been ironed out."

Vahn gave a curt nod in response to Zelretch's words before turning his gaze back to Solon. Though the meeting would have to wait until a later date, there was another meeting he prioritized over his own negotiations. Thus, without beating around the bush, he asked, "We trust you have contacted the Director of the Atlas Temple to arrange a meeting, yes? Da Vinci has been looking forward to the exchange so I trust that you will contact Director Oberon for us?"

Though they didn't exactly need a reminder, Solon grimaced when they heard Vahn's words. Since Merlin had made an appearance, it was necessary for them to complete their part of the agreement. This made Solon feel rather bitter as, while they had indeed wanted to discuss some things with the errant Beast of Destruction, it didn't really feel like a fair trade. Merlin was not pleasant to deal with so it made them feel frustrated knowing that the Empire would benefit while they had been forced to deal with one of the few people that grated on their nerves even more than Vahn.

Despite their frustration, Solon scrunched up their nose before saying in a chiding tone, "We do not need your reminder. I have already been in contact with the Director of the Atlas Temple. They have expressed an interest in meeting with Da Vinci as well so you only need to set the date. Now, if there is nothing else, please leave...I'm..." Solon almost mentioned how tired they were of dealing with all of this but, remembering that Zelretch was going to be even busier, they ultimately decided to hold their tongue.

Without another word, Solon waved their hand like they were swatting away a fly. This caused one of the rings on their fingers to activate, bending space around them and allowing them to depart the arena without another word.

Zelretch issued an awkward laugh in response to Solon's departure but, as he looked around at the gathered crowd, his face formed into a frown. While others might not have noticed it, he had made a point of keeping Merlin within his perception. When Solon disappeared, Merlin also vanished shortly thereafter. He didn't exactly have to worry about Merlin doing anything to Solon but, after knowing the latter for thousands of years, he couldn't help but be a little worried about leaving them alone with one of the most inexplicable existences in all realities.

Vahn was actually fully aware of Merlin's departure but, as there wasn't much he could do to stop him, he just continued to smile casually as he said, "Well then, we'll be on our way. We both have matters to attend so it is for the best we part here..."

Before Zelretch could offer to show Vahn's group out, someone else preempted him by asking in a curious tone, "Hey, you mind if I tag along? I don't really want to be involved in anything official and there were some things I wanted to talk about. I'm familiar with the Edelfelt family so they probably won't care if I drop by."

As he had already been thinking about meeting with Aoko in the near future, Vahn only took a few moments before ultimately nodding his head and saying, "I can't promise we'll have the chance to discuss everything at this time but I can't imagine Olivia and Luvia turning you away. Very well, you may accompany us. My companions might be a little tense around you but I'm certain it won't be a serious issue."

Vahn intended his words to be a reminder to both Aoko and his companions to behave but, while his entourage seemed to understand, Aoko herself began to laugh in a carefree manner before she gave him a thumbs up and said, "I'll try not to spook them again. I would rather not have that little girl's claws digging into my throat, hahahaha~"

Hearing Aoko call her a 'little girl', Fenrir's ears turned backward in an aggressive manner as her face formed into a snarl, teeth exposed. This caused Aoko to take a step back but, before things became even tenser, Vahn plopped his hand down on Fenrir's head. She didn't immediately calm down but, after a few seconds had passed, her ears became less tense, drooping slightly as she released a snort through her nose and turned away from Aoko.

With Fenrir calming down, Vahn looked toward Aoko and plainly stated, "You should choose your words with more consideration, Aoko. Despite appearances, Fenrir is already thirty-five years old. Judging people based on their appearances is a brash and inconsiderate thing to do...not everyone has a choice when it comes to their appearance..."

Aoko winced slightly after hearing Vahn's words but, rather than apologize, she asked, "Is she really older than me? That is...unfortunate. If you want, I might be able to help out?" With the Fifth Magic, it wasn't that difficult to change the appearance of others. If she allocated time from one person to another, it was possible to accelerate or reverse their time, granting perpetual youth at the expense of reverting their potential.

In response to Aoko's offer, Fenrir scrunched up her nose again as she stated in a growling tone, "I will deal with my problems on my own. I do not need the pity of other people. You should mind your own business...!"

Vahn was a little surprised by how hostile Fenrir was being but, considering Aoko was one of the few people that could actually threaten them, he could understand why she was so riled up. In her mind, anyone that was not yet 'family' was an enemy or, at the very least, a potential enemy. She had very developed instincts so it must be frustrating for her to be around someone she knew could pose a very real threat to everything they wanted to protect. In fact, it was for this reason that Vahn had left her out of the previous meetings with Solon as it was almost guaranteed that conflict would arise...

For a brief moment, Vahn considered summoning Fenrir back to Avalon via Unit Management but, as he didn't want her to think he was punishing her, he just lightly pinched the base of her ear and said, "Calm down..." in a tone only she could hear. This caused Fenrir to turn her face away once again, her breathing taking on a specific rhythm that indicated she was doing her best to calm down.

Aoko wasn't that good at dealing with other hotheaded individuals so she was feeling awkward and apologetic. However, she tried to avoid ever apologizing as, in her opinion, it was better to make up for mistakes through actions, not words. With that in mind, she decided to take Vahn's advice or, at the very least, avoid saying anything that might make the wolf girl upset. There was a part of her that really wanted to touch Fenrir's fluffy ears so, as much as possible, Aoko wanted to avoid making the girl into her enemy.

Adopting the best smile she could manage in this situation, Aoko crossed her arms and asked, "Are we just going to keep standing around here? I actually flew all the way from Japan so I'd like to get something to eat before my body gives out. Despite my looks, I'm actually a glutton, hahahaha~"

Understanding Aoko's attempts to ingratiate herself to the group by being self-deprecating, Vahn adopted a smile of his own as he answered, "That would be for the best." Then, after turning to face Zelretch, he added, "I doubt he needs to be told but make sure Merlin doesn't overstay his welcome. You'll be able to reach us by contact Olivia or by appearing near the transfer gate. On that note, let me remind you that the Empire is not entertaining uninvited guests for the time being..."

Zelretch gave an understanding nod in response to Vahn's words before tapping his cane against the ground and opening a portal behind the group. With the current state of affairs in the Clock Tower, it wasn't the best idea for Vahn's group to be walking through the campus and facilities.

---

After a few more cursory words, Vahn bade farewell to Zelretch before leading the group, sans one flowery Magus, through the portal. Aoko followed a little behind the group at first but, before they proceeded too far, Lakshmibai and Kenshin matched pace with her. Even without Vahn having to ask, they knew it would be better for someone to ease the tensions between Aoko and the group. This would normally be Fenrir's self-imposed duty but, as this was clearly not an option, they had taken it upon themselves to play the part...

With Zelretch's consideration, the group was placed just outside the localized bounded field of the Edelfelt Manor. Since there was the usual barrier preventing normal people from noticing anything amiss, their sudden appearance didn't even draw the attention of any passing pedestrians. Instead, they went on with their lives, completely unaware of the fantastical nature of the world they lived in.

It didn't take long at all for the Edelfelt Security Forces to react to the presence of Vahn's group. The first to noticed them issued an order through their earpiece that set the mansion's staff into motion like a group of highly organized ants. At the same time, Vahn could sense Olivia moving to the usual reception area, though not before she waved her hand knowingly in his direction.

By the time Vahn's group reached the main entrance, most of the servant staff had already gathered in two neat columns to greet them. This wasn't even abnormal in the Edelfelt household so Vahn just gave an appreciative nod to the group before informing the head Butler that they would be staying for dinner. Though it would be better to return to Avalon and have the meeting there, he didn't trust Aoko enough to invite her into his home, especially into the Projection. She might be an honest and forthright woman but, with the amount of power she wielded, he would rather deal with her as far away from his home as possible...

---

While Vahn and his entourage were idling at the Edelfelt mansion, there were several other events taking place, both within the Clock Tower and at the Barthomeloi family Manor.

Merlin was quite enjoying teasing Solon after more than fifteen-hundred years, much to the petite Magus' chagrin. If not for the fact they wanted more information about Vahn and his origins, Solon would never willingly deal with Merlin's presence. However, while Merlin was a lot of very frustrating things, Solon knew his word could be trusted. More than almost anyone else, with perhaps the sole exception of Alaya, Merlin was wholly dedicated to the preservation of life.

At this point, they had already discussed Vahn's origins in a very roundabout manner but, as Solon was not entirely convinced, they ultimately asked directly, "Are you certain that the Sage Emperor can really be trusted? I feel that their actions may lead to the destruction of everything, not just the Surface world..."

Rather than refute Solon's words, Merlin gave a lazy nod before answering, "If he one day decided to destroy the world, I fear there is nothing that could stop him. You may not have realized it yet, but I have already determined that it is futile to try and oppose that man. While he lacks a fate of his own, he is able to influence the fates of those around him to an extreme degree. At this point, it is already too late to try and prevent his rise so, if you're looking to me for advice, I would suggest forming an alliance instead of leading to the very destruction you want to avoid..."

Solon inhaled sharply through their nose in response to Merlin's words. They wanted to refute them and try to convince Merlin to help come up with countermeasures against Vahn but, with the former stating very plainly that it is 'futile', Solon could only grit their teeth while balling their hands into fists. From the moment they learned that Vahn was from the 'Outside', Solon had already started to feel hopeless. After all, Vahn was immune to even their Eyes of Death Perception, a form of Mystic Eyes that allowed them to even kill Gods and Greater Divine Spirits...

After calming down, Solon decided to follow up by asking, "Can you tell me why it is futile? If your words are the truth, I don't see any reason for you to keep things hidden. You know I'm not going to go around publicizing secrets to others. Tell me the truth..."

Once again, Merlin made no effort to deceive Solon with his usual flowery words. He knew Solon far better than they knew themselves as, in every past vision of the future, Merlin had seen how hard the reclusive Magus had fought to preserve humanity. In almost every timeline, Solon would, time and again, sacrifice everything in order to give humanity a fighting chance. Knowing this, Merlin gave a small nod before detailing exactly how strong Vahn was. He even revealed the existence of Alaya and the fact that Vahn was Type: Omega and had authority over all other Types, including Gaia herself.

By the time Merlin had finished his explanation, Solon felt like their brain had stopped working. It wasn't until Merlin tried to poke them with his staff that they came back to their senses, scowling in the process. However, immediately after that, Solon lowered their head and asked, "It really is futile, isn't it...? How can something like that even exist...simply ridiculous..."

Merlin waved his hand dismissively after hearing Solon's remark, saying in a lackadaisical tone, "Vahn has his quirks, but he is a good man. His ultimate goal is actually to leave this world but, as he can't just ignore the suffering of others, he is compelled to take action. Rather than try and come up with a method to defeat him, it would be better to work alongside him to make the world a better place. When he is satisfied with the progress made, he will inevitably move on from this world so why not just go with the flow~?"

Hearing Merlin's words, Solon snorted before waving their hand and pulling out a mirror from thin air. Reflected in its surface was what could only be described as a massacre, one perpetrated by a scarlet-eyed woman garbed in purple and black attire. When Merlin saw this, he began to awkwardly scratch his cheek as, while he didn't disagree with Vahn's decision, he couldn't deny it was more than a little extreme. He abhorred violence and destructive, even if he understood the necessity of such actions.

Knowing what Solon wanted to say, Merlin just shook his head before saying in a melancholic tone, "Vahn is not the type that seeks conflict. That does not mean he will avoid it, however...this is a fate that the Barthomeloi family brought upon themselves. If we want to avoid even more death, changes will need to be made within the Association. This is something you need to seriously consider as, in the upcoming negotiations, Vahn is going to offer you several terms that, for the sake of the world, you simply can't refuse..."

Solon placed the mirror showing Scáthach's slaughter back in their pocket dimension before shaking their head and releasing a tired sigh. They could already imagine, not just the Association, but every faction in the world being uprooted by Vahn. Merlin had already mentioned the fact that Vahn had the means to access the Throne of Heroes without any restrictions so there was simply no way for any group to oppose him. Even if his allies were defeated, Vahn could simply resummon them at a moment just before their deaths, effectively making everyone of central importance to the Empire immortal...

Rather than discuss Vahn any further, Solon ran their hand down their face in a self-calming gesture before looking to Merlin and, after several tense seconds, asking, "You still have the power to invade dreams, right...?"

In response to Solon's words, Merlin began to lightly chuckle before snapping his fingers. Despite Solon having defenses against sleeping spells, they watched on in silence as a field of flowers began to bloom around them. This caused their brows to twitch but, fortunately, Merlin didn't seem intent on making them relive their nightmares.

Solon found themselves at the base of a tree so vast it seemed to cover the heavens with a single branch. At the same time, a large pool of water appeared but, rather than clear blue waters, they were completely black. Solon could feel the cold liquid pass over their feet and calves but, without minding it, they continued forward until they were standing next to a large well that was more than 5m in diameter. Then, despite every fiber of their being telling them not to do it, Solon threw themselves into the well without hesitation...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Red vs Blue','Scáthach doing Vahn's dirty work...','O_O...')

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Capítulo 1262: Questions, Concerns, Complaints?

Before Vahn could sit down and discuss things with Olivia and Aoko, the former made him return to Avalon to pick up Luvia and Ulla. Though it wasn't exactly the best time to bring Ulla outside of the Projection, Olivia needed Luvia to help clean up the aftermath of the Barthomeloi's fall. Even with Scáthach wreaking havoc, there was a non-negligible chance that one of the remaining members of the Barthomeloi family could do something drastic.

When Vahn arrived with the mother-daughter pair, the most surprised was Aoko who, before seeing Ulla directly, hadn't even known Luvia was pregnant. In fact, even inside of the Edelfelt family, very few people knew that their current head had not only gotten pregnant, but had already given birth.

Luvia wasn't surprised by Aoko's presence, as Vahn had already explained the situation, so she just smiled tauntingly while flaunting Ulla as she said, "Don't worry, Aoko, there is still time for you to find a man and settle down, ohohohoho~"

Hearing Luvia's remark, the veins in Aoko's temples began to throb as she tightened her right hand into a fist and, with a crooked smile on her face, asked, "It has been a while since our last duel. How about a round of light sparring...?"

In response to Aoko, Luvia just covered her mouth, giggling in a haughty manner before saying, "My, my, ever the brute. It is because of your nature that you only ever have any luck with boys half your age, you know~?"

Aoko's hair began to flare up and glow in a vibrant red color in response to Luvia's taunting but, as Vahn immediately stepped between them with a warning look, she managed to calm herself down. She didn't need anyone to explain to her who the adorable little baby belonged to so, while it was a little annoying that Vahn immediately went to Luvia's defense, she could understand his reasoning.

Fortunately, before Luvia could tease Aoko further, Oliva unhesitantly smacked her granddaughter on the back of the head before saying, "Don't go picking fights with my great-granddaughter in your arms. You might have a family of your own now, but don't think I won't discipline you, brat." After stating her piece, Olivia robbed Ulla from Luvia's arms, leaving the latter nursing a visible bump on her head while Aoko laughed uninhibitedly at her expense...

After everyone had settled in, Vahn explained the situation regarding the Barthomeloi family. They had already discussed the matter prior to the duel but Luvia couldn't help but follow up by asking, "Are we really not going to try and seize any of the Barthomeloi family's assets? I understand that the Empire isn't exactly left wanting for materials and wealth but..."

Vahn caused Luvia's words to trail off by shaking his head and reminding, "If we try and do anything with the Barthomeloi's assets, it will cause the other families to panic. I want it to be very clear that we don't care about personal gain and status. This will cause the other families to fear us but, at the very least, we can avoid them taking desperate action in the interim. They will continue to try and get away with things behind the scenes but this increases the chances they will at least pretend to adhere to the reforms I intend to impose."

Olivia gave an approving nod in response to Vahn's decision but, as she didn't like the thought of their enemies getting ahold of artifacts they could have seized, Luvia released a subdued sigh. As for Aoko, who was listening in on the discussion as if it was only natural for her to be there, she decided to ask, "How strong is your Empire, exactly? All I've really heard are rumors, nothing concrete. It is a little weird to me that you're already doing whatever you want before people even understand how strong your group is. If you continue being secretive, you're only going to cause a lot of unnecessary conflicts."

Hearing Aoko's rather thoughtless words, Luvia decided to rebuff her, stating, "While there is some merit to what you are saying, there is an order to everything. Vahn only arrived in this world a short while ago so you can't blame him for trying to be cautious. You don't know what he wants to protect so, while you think he is acting with impunity, he has been measuring his actions quite a bit. Don't lump him together with those scheming bastards that hide in the shadows and build up their power at the expense of others, Aoko."

Aoko frowned slightly in response to Luvia's words but, rather than outright refute them, she said, "Fine. But you should know better than most that those same old monsters are very resistant to change. If you're taking down major families, you can't afford to do everything in such a roundabout way. This will only encourage them to plot and scheme behind the scenes, wasting your efforts to deter them entirely. I've tried using my Magic to keep those bastards in line but, after they realized I'm not willing to start a war, they've been pestering me like mosquitos ever since."

Despite Aoko addressing Luvia, Vahn was the one to answer, stating plain and simple, "That is the biggest difference between us, Ms. Aozaki. If necessary, the Empire will not hesitate to go to war. The world is already on the verge of destruction, even without Angra Mainyu's emergence. Gaia, the very planet itself, is hateful and afraid of humanity. She is proactively doing everything in her power to try and destroy them, all while they continue to live blissfully unaware of the truth. This world is built on a foundation of lies and, instead of building a better future for everyone, the powers that be focus more on maintaining the status quo and holding on to their own power. While you might be content to just sit around and play games, I intend to save, not just humanity, but all creatures...including the planet itself."

Aoko was a little taken aback by the severity of Vahn's words but, when she heard him say that she was just sitting around, her blood pressure began to rise. When he was finished speaking, she didn't hesitate to exclaim, "You can't just go around making assumptions like that! I'm also doing my best to try and change things for the better, you know!?"

In response to Aoko's outburst, Vahn craned his head to the side slightly, asking in a pointed tone, "Oh? Other than try and reform your family, what exactly have you done to try and change the rest of the world? You have personally experienced how corrupt the Mage's Association is but, instead of taking a stance against them, you just hole yourself up in Japan and ignore it..."

At this point, Aoko was half-standing but, before she could interrupt him, Vahn raised his hand and, with a pointed glare, added, "Truth be told, you have no responsibility to change anything. There is nothing wrong with wanting to protect and preserve your family, Aoko. What makes you out of line is how you spew platitudes and lay expectations on other people, despite essentially living however you want by relying on the Fifth Magic. Other people aren't as strong as you, so they have to suffer under the tyranny of the current system. Since you have the power to oppose them, you have much greater freedom than others. Don't blame me for taking the necessary steps to make sure everyone has the same amount of freedom you currently enjoy..."

Aoko was at a loss for words after hearing what Vahn had said. She wanted to argue against them but, as she had actually just returned from a two-month-long vacation, it was very hard to say she had been working hard. Even the emergence of Angra Mainyu wasn't really on her radar as, after dealing with the harassment of the Mage's Association in the past, she largely ignored them unless it was a direct request from the Director.

After plopping back down on the sofa, Aoko crossed her arms with a conflicted expression on her face. She had always lived her life without regrets, living life to the fullest and never second-guessing her decisions. Though she had made a lot of mistakes because of this, she just had to work hard to make up for them after the fact. She had even been able to make up with her sister, Touko, who she had feuded with for several years due to the latter being passed up for the position of family head.

It was only now that Aoko was forcibly reminded of the fact that she was exceptionally fortunate compared to the average Magus. She had been able to live a normal life until she was fifteen, not even aware that magic was a thing until her grandfather suddenly decided she would inherit the Fifth Magic. Since her sister had been training for nineteen years to become the next head, it had caused a massive rift in their relationship.

After their feud started, Touko had even been given a Sealing Designation and, in her attempts to try and have it revoked, the Association even tried to place a Sealing Designation on her. It took several years of effort to have both of their designations removed. From that moment onward, Aoko did her best to try and enjoy her newfound freedom and patch things up with her sister, sometimes chasing the latter halfway around the world just to spend time together.

No matter how anyone looked at her situation, she had been forced to go through a lot of things, none of which she had chosen for herself. Despite the chaotic world she was thrown into, Aoko had always done her best to push forward yet, hearing Vahn's words, she was suddenly reminded of how ignorant and immature her sister claimed her to be. After all, while she had certainly gone through a lot, she had the Fifth Magic to rely on and, no matter how dangerous things got, she had the power to overcome almost any trials handed to her from the very beginning...

Vahn hadn't expected Aoko so suddenly act depressed. Since she had a lively personality, he felt a little guilty and, if not for several of the women present giving him pointed looks, he would have apologized. He didn't like seeing lively girls suddenly lose their smile as, even if his words were the truth, he felt like a jerk for having pointed them out.

Fortunately, Artoria extended him a lifeline by entering into the conversation, stating in a calm and guiding tone, "As my husband pointed out, there is nothing wrong with living a free and unfettered life. You have the power to bring about change but that does not mean you have to use it on behalf of others. So long as you are not misusing your power to cause harm, there is nothing wrong with just enjoying your life and protecting the things you want to protect. Many would use that same power to suppress and take advantage of others so you have no reason to feel ashamed of yourself, Ms. Aozaki."

Perhaps as a result of her A+ Rank [Charisma], Artoria's words seemed to have a strong impact on the depressed redhead. She immediately returned back to her cheerful self, smiling radiantly as she said, "Don't worry. I might get down at times but I promised to live a life without any regrets. Still, I appreciate your kind words..."

After addressing Artoria with a smile, Aoko then turned her gaze to match Vahn's, her lips twitching slightly as she struggled to continue smiling as she said, "You're right. I don't agree with some of the things you said, but I feel that you aren't wrong in wanting to bring change. I just don't want to see millions of people die for a cause, regardless of whether or not it is for the 'best'....haaaa..."

Vahn could only sigh in response to Aoko's words. Then, after organizing his thoughts, he explained, "Death is not the end of life, just a part of it. I will not go out of my way to kill people but, if it would make the world a better place, I would not hesitate to eliminate even the majority. If I found a group of a thousand people cheering on as two children brutally fought to the death, you can be certain I would eliminate the one-thousand in order to preserve the lives of the two. Prioritizing life without consideration for how others are forced to live just allows corruption to spread rampantly..."

Hearing Vahn's words, Aoko tried to think of what she would do in the same situation. She would obviously save the children but, unless they continued trying to attack her, she would only destroy the arena while trying to limit casualties. This, however, would only be a small setback to the people staging the fight as, unless she forced them to stop, it was only a matter of time until they repeated their errant ways. By removing them completely, the fights would be brought to an end and, after the matter spread to the public, very few people would try to repeat the despicable act...

Aoko felt like pulling her hair out because she couldn't decide whether or not the extreme measures Vahn talked about were really for the best. She felt that people could always be redeemed and, even if they had done reprehensible things, there was a chance they would become better people in the future. The problem with this was, unless someone was there to 'force' them to change, the chances they would truly reflect on their actions were slim, at best...

Ultimately, Aoko ended up shaking her head and saying, "I guess this is why you're an Emperor and I'm just a small family head. I can't make these kinds of decisions, regardless of how much power I have. Though I can see your reasoning, my gut instinct just tells me its wrong."

Somewhat against her expectations, Vahn did not try to lecture her. Instead, he had a smile on his face as he nodded his head approvingly. Then, surprising her further, he stated in a calm tone, "The world needs people like you, perhaps even more than it needs people like me. Being an idealist and staying true to your convictions are two things most people struggle with. I actually respect people like you a great deal, Aoko. I even have a friend named Paracelsus who, while we do not see eye-to-eye, we are able to work together to make the world a better place. I would never expect others to step in line and try to perform the same feats as myself...after all, they are not an Emperor. It is my responsibility, not theirs."

Though they had not orchestrated the event, almost everyone in the room smiled in response to Vahn's words. Luvia and Artoria, seated at Vahn's flanks, even had proud expressions, leaving Aoko as the only person in the room who didn't know how she should respond. It actually made her feel strangely relieved to hear Vahn say he respected her, even though she didn't really need someone like him to acknowledge her.

Not really sure if she should smile or frown, as her emotions were very conflicted, Aoko decided to just stop worrying about it entirely. Instead, she shifted focus, tilting her head to the side and saying, "Well, I guess it really isn't my place to advise you. Rather, the main reason I came here was because I wanted to ask you a few questions. Is that okay? I don't really want to hold up your discussion so I can always come back later..."

Vahn was tempted to laugh at how quickly Aoko, irrespective of the atmosphere, just went at her own pace. She seemed like someone who would be easy to tease but, knowing his intentions might be misconstrued, both by Aoko and his surroundings, Vahn restrained himself. Instead, he gave a small nod, answering, "Feel free to ask what is on your mind."

Aoko's smile returned when Vahn gave her permission to ask questions so, without beating around the bush at all, she asked, "Are you really from the Outside? What is it like beyond the Root? Is it true that there are other worlds and realities completely separate from our own...!?"

Though these things had been discussed several times in the past, everyone present showed equal interest to Aoko's own as they waited for Vahn to answer. He couldn't talk about The Path, and a few other key details, but that didn't stop him from giving a brief overview. Besides, there were ways he could talk around the issue without actually lying as, with what he knew now, there were quite a few ways to answer the question 'truthfully'.

After taking a few moments to organize his thoughts, Vahn answered, "I am, indeed, from what you refer to as the Outside. As for what lays beyond the Root...well, the most accurate answer would be 'nothing' and 'everything' at the same time. The laws that govern reality there are simultaneously rigid yet, from the perspective of those inside the Root, they are extremely loose. If you were to go beyond the Root, it would be possible to create an entire Multiverse of your own design, granting you power far beyond the ability of most people to even conceive..."

Vahn's words caused the atmosphere to become a little tense with excitement but, before anyone got any strange ideas, he added, "Power rarely comes without cost, however. While you may become the pinnacle of an entire multiverse, you will have a lot of restrictions placed on you. Those seeking an absolute understanding of everything would likely enjoy the experience but, more often than not, it is far more pleasant to live ignorant of the truth. As for your final question...well, that is a given. It isn't widely known but, even within the Root, there are a plethora of other worlds and even entire separate universes. Some even have entities that possess extremes of power that make True Magic seem mundane in comparison..."

Hearing Vahn's explanation, Aoko felt her palms sweating a little as her smile began to gradually fade away. If what he said was true, passing through the Root wasn't really something she wanted to consider. Thus, with that out of the way, she asked the question she really wanted an answer to, "Do you know anything about the 'Red Shadow'?"

Rather than Vahn having to come up with an answer for himself, Alaya's eyes flashed for a few moments without his notice before she began to explain in his ear, "The Red Shadow is the Veil of Truth. It is a conceptual entity that has no true name or origin. It kills those trying to reach the Root and tries to hunt down those who have obtained its power."

Vahn repeated what Alaya had told him, even though he had the sinking suspicion there was more that she wasn't telling him. Fortunately, Aoko seemed satisfied by his answer, even if she suddenly seemed very tired as she mumbled, "So it's like that..." before adopting her usual smile and saying, "Thanks for the information. I guess I'll just have to put up with it until I pass on the Fifth to another, huh?"

After her remark, Aoko crossed her fingers before stretching her body and rising to her feet. There was a lot she still wanted to talk about but, as most of her questions likely related to the secrets of the Empire, she didn't feel comfortable with asking them right now. With that in mind, she rubbed her neck in a self-calming gesture while saying, "I shouldn't hold up your own discussion any longer. I'll try and get in touch after things calm down. Is that okay...?"

Since he knew Aoko was being considerate, and likely had a lot to think about, Vahn didn't try and keep her any longer. He returned a smile to her before casually remarking, "You don't have to worry about the Red Shadow. Unless you began using your power to try and destroy mankind, it doesn't have the authority to try and claim your life. If you want, I can help you deal with it in the future. For now, we'll just leave things as they are. I look forward to meeting with you again, Ms. Aozaki."

Aoko blanked for a moment when she heard Vahn's words but, hearing him call her Ms. Aozaki again, she winced a little before saying, "Just call me Aoko. Calling me Ms. Aozaki feels impersonal and makes me feel like an old lady. We might not be friends just yet, but I don't think you're a bad person. Well, anyway, I guess I'll see you later, Vahn."

Despite it being a relatively serious breach of etiquette for Aoko to just arbitrarily start calling him by name, Vahn just laughed it off before saying, "Yeah. I'll see you later, Aoko. Take care of yourself and try to stay out of trouble. I'll try and do the same, so long as my enemies allow it."

Though she wanted to rebuff him, Aoko just shrugged after hearing Vahn's words before waving her hand and following a Maid out of the room. After that, she left the mansion before flying off into the sky like a hypersonic rocket. She really did have a lot to think about but, before she made any major decision, Aoko wanted to talk with her sister and the rest of her family...

Shortly after Aoko left the room, Luvia wasted no time before remarking, "Don't let her fool you. She might look like she is in her early twenties, but she is close to double that in age. Still, she would be a powerful addition to our forces so good luck, Darling~"

Vahn didn't need to ask Luvia to clarify the meaning behind her words. Instead, he just shook his head with a wry smile on his face before changing the topic to discuss their future plans...

(A/N: Alternate Titles: 'Good men that are afraid to act only perpetuate the cycle','What is the true identity of Red Shadow-chan!?','Luvia is always scheming to make the Empire more powerful xD...?')

https://bit.ly/2XBzAYu <-(p.atreon link)

paypal.me/Einlion

Discord Invite: https://discord.gg/mn5xMbE


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