Chapter 3

Over the next few weeks I started to set up my use of world's maker authority. Worlds maker let me make virtually anything. I wanted a super powerful magic sword. It's nice to want things… However I let Inari know about my authority she had a slightly different idea as to how to make use of it…

Inari wanted a home fit for a god. I now had the money. My parents during this time had actually won the lottery. It's strange that that becomes a footnote but that's just my life now. I guess Inari worked extra hard on that. I called them on their cruise and they loved the idea of a mansion. They were surprised and proud that I was going to be designing it. Though they suggested I retain an architect to help (and make sure I didn't mess it up).

Now World's Maker lets me make stuff by giving me the skills and tools to make it but I actually have to do the work myself and I need the material. Rather than build it myself of course I was going to go the sane route and have contractors follow my designs. Inari was a little sad that I couldn't just magic into existence a new home for us, but understood about the limits to godly authorities.

I also had another authority Will of magic which let me understand any magic or magical Item used in my presence. So I called up the HCC to get any glyphs or wards I could as well as any permanent enchantments.

If I was going to make a home for myself I was going to build a fortress that would be unassailable. I wanted something even gods and giant monsters couldn't break. I wanted something that would stand for a thousand years come giant monster or natural disaster.

It was a long and intricate process designing our new home. It would be huge with its own pool, tennis court, movie theatre and several other amenities for outrageously rich people. It would also include a shrine for Inari. She didn't insist on it but hinted she really wanted one.

Inari took this time to play the role of doting wife. She handled the cooking and even though I was very finicky her cooking was godly being a food deity. She was always at my side making suggestions or just praising my work.

One day while eating dinner with her I asked her something I had been curious about.

"Say Inari?" I asked a little anxiously.

"Yes?" she answered, crooking her neck looking curiously.

"What gender are you?"

"Hmm what brought this on?" she asked looking up from her plate curiously her head tilted.

"Well it's just you have been described as male, female and androgynous. You even had a wife at one point."

At the mention of her wife Inari looked a little sad and a little wistful.

She set down her chopsticks and straightened out her clothes as she stood up.

"I am Inari, I am anything you wish me to be." She said simply and as she did she changed.

Her frame broadened as her breasts shrank and faded away the shape of her body changed. Her face grew slightly more masculine leaving her… no him rather androgynous but still breathtakingly beautiful.

He was taller in this form though more average height, His face never truly lost that feminine beauty, his chest was toned but not too muscular. As a man Inari was still equally beautiful. He was a true Bishonen. I swear I almost saw sparkles.

He smiled playfully "Do you like?"

I found myself my cheeks growing a little warm as I looked up at him.

He smiled gently "For my beloved wife I was a man. I was very happy being so for her. As for what I am originally I am Inari, a god of many aspects both male and female.

"Umm ok sorry I was just curious."

Inari shifted and returned to her normal form and returned to her seat. "No problem. I will be whatever you want me to be."

I cleared my threat and looked down at my plate. "I am fine with you as you are now."

With that I let the conversation go or so I would have liked it to.

"You know even in this form I am perfectly capable of giving you children. You have very nice child bearing hips it would be a shame to let them go to waste."

I could feel the warmth in my cheeks return and redouble as I looked up "Inari!" I complained.

Inari chuckled and smiled "I am just saying." She continued to tease me. "It's cute when you blush." She told me.

With that the conversation faded away.

It was a few days later that I received my first servant. Officially she was to be my maid. Mitsuko Yume Mizushima Was a tall, well-built young woman. Who favored a classic oriental style white and black maid outfit. She had long straight dark hair and deep blue eyes. She was pale with porcelain skin and a well formed figure. She was truly a classic beauty. However her true purpose in serving me was that she was a knight of an organization based in Japan that cleared up magical incidents and helped the local campione. To accentuate this fact I never found her without her Katana which she often wore strapped on her back. She was a very serious girl and took care of me with the utmost care.

"So Mitsuko do you mind if I call you Mitsuko."

"You may call me what you wish Madam."

"How about you call me Raven rather than Madam I am not much for formality."

"If that is what you wish madam… I mean Raven." She said with a slight blush.

She then interjected "I may not be as skilled as Erica Blandelli but I swear to serve you faithfully as my lord."

I sighed "Ok ummm around here we aren't that formal so could you try and relax it's making me rather nervous."

She blushed faintly and bowed "Ah I am sorry Ma-Raven I will try and do better."

"It's alright we will work on it. So why are you serving me?"

That caught her by surprise "Huh?"

"Well I suppose serving a Campione is a prestigious position but I am kind of wondering what exactly drew you to my service."

"Ah…" she said and looked away "My family used to be quite prestigious but lately we have fallen on hard times. I am being paid well both by you and by the Historical Compellation Committee to serve you."

"Oh so you are in it for the money?"

"Ah no I mean I would never."

I smiled and waved a hand to dismiss her concerns "Calm down I am not calling you greedy I am saying you are in a tough situation and doing the best you can. Honestly I would prefer this than someone who was here out of Idol worship of my status as a Campione or here to make a name for themselves as my servant."

That seemed to cause her to relax.

"SO the HCC is funding you too. May I ask why?"

"Ah… they wish for me to keep you happy." She said with a slight blush.

"And to keep me under control I take it." She nodded.

I could sense a growing hostility from across the room I looked over to see Inari cross armed and her tail fluffed up with a sour look on her face."

"Do not fear I am loyal to you, not them if it comes down to it." She pleaded.

I sighed and gave a slight smile "Well don't worry I'll try and not make any trouble for you."

"Can I speak with you for a moment?" Requested or more accurately demanded Inari grabbing my arm and giving a firm tug.

"Ah just a second Mitsuko." I told her as I was pulled away.

"So you don't seem happy Inari."

"You're damn right I am not happy the Historical Compellation Committee is trying to control you with that bimbo." She whisper shouted.

I winced "Mitsuko seems like a perfectly nice girl."

"Who is working for the Historical Compellation Committee, how do we know she is not a spy?"

"Umm I don't think I am interesting enough to spy on I mean I am sure she is getting paid for that but I can't see it being a problem."

"So you're going to let a spy into our home?" She said incredulously.

"Inari I am going to level with you." I said, putting my hands on her shoulder's supportively. "I am a Campione. Apparently that's a big deal I am supposed to be king of whatever country that I live in. It doesn't matter who I choose as a servant, the odds they are going to be working for someone who is trying to influence me or keep tabs on me. With Mitsuko I know who she is working for, she admitted why she is working for me."

"So you're ok with this?" She more demanded than asked.

"Well I am not thrilled but I mean it is what it is."

"And the fact that they probably chose her hoping you would invite her in to your bed so they could influence you that way."

I winced

"Ummm Mitsuko… the HCC, they didn't ask you to do anything unreasonable did they?"

Mitsuko for her part blushed and looked away. "They asked me to get as close to you as possible. I AM NOT WILLING TO SELL MY BODY OR MY DIGNITY though."

"Good for you Mitsuko." I told her before turning back.

I sighed "Ok I have to have a talk with the HCC about some of their inappropriate actions."

Inari sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose "You're still going to have anything to do with them after this?"

"Well I don't know who is who in the magic world and neither do you. The fact is despite this bit of outrageous conduct. I still need them"

"Well whatever I leave it to you to decide just know I have voiced my disapproval of all of this." She said her arms crossed. I knew somehow this wasn't the last I would hear of it.

The next day I found myself looking at the phone. I hated phones and I hated confrontation… and that's just what I had to do now. Unable to find a way to put it off any further I picked up the phone and dialed.

"Hey Amakasu, this is Raven."

"Ah Raven, wonderful to hear from you, how can I help you?."

"Well… I just wanted to say I think we have been working pretty well together."

"I agree totally you have been an amazing Campione."

I sighed "Well if you agreed then why are you paying girls to worm their way into my bed to get further influence over me?"

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone before he finally answered. "Ah look I am sorry those were orders from higher ups. I didn't mean to…"

"Well despite what you meant you tried to turn a young girl into a hooker in order to try and get me to work better with your organization."

"Look I am really sorry."

"You should be… Look you got one fuck up. ONE! I'll admit your help has been invaluable but there are other magical organizations that would love the assistance of a Campione. There is not going to be any other warnings. You understand? Also I want you to apologize to Mitsuko for putting her in such a position.

Now I am still going to work with you for the time being but this doesn't happen again."

"It won't. I'll see that it doesn't."

"Ok good. Well then I'll let you go." And with that I hung up. Somehow I felt a bit better after doing that.

It only took a couple weeks for the design for the mansion to be done. My hand worked like it was possessed thanks to my Authority; drawing lines and fitting everything that everyone requested into it.

This however was the easy part. We had to get the land and the people to build it. Through the HCC I was able to get in contact with some builders that specialized in Occult buildings like mine. They weren't cheap but when working on what I wanted to be my fortress for the next 9 years and a few months I wanted it done well.

That brought me to the next step. The land. I got really lucky; I wanted something towards the outskirts of the city but close enough that it wouldn't take hours to drive anywhere. The land I found fit both criteria. I got it for a song. I just had to have some old vacant houses torn down. In fact the entire area was sort of a ghost town. I got more land than I needed and the seller seemed happy to be rid of it… There were legends of it being haunted but that just meant the area would be rich with magic. I was certain that the team of builders could lay whatever was there to rest and I would have gotten some prime land.

They say no plan survives first contact with the enemy.

I was training with Mitsuko. She was more than happy to teach me the path of the sword and whatever magic that she knew. It was during one of these sessions when my phone rang. I hated phones and this was just another reason why.

I answered it and it was the builders. It turns out that the land that they were supposed to build on was too much for them. Though they had experts on exercising spirit, these spirits were particularly powerful and persistent. They could not proceed without risk of serious injury so they told me building was delayed indefinitely until I managed to get someone in there with enough ability to clear the ghosts out.

I said alright and told them I would go do that and that was it.

"Is there a problem Raven-san?" Asked Mitsuko

"Well apparently we have a ghost problem."