Chapter 23: The Master of Irrevocable (Part 14)

"As much as I love and adore it I can't help but feel grateful that you decided to enchant your hair so that it's pristine and perfect at all times of the day, only a minimum of maintenance required. I can't imagine having to care for it if it was natural."

"Please tell me more about how much you admire and cherish me, master~!"

Robin rolled her eyes from where she was perusing a scroll atop a nearby collection of rugs and mats, wryly commenting, "I wish I had access to such convenient magic when traipsing across Ylisse, having long hair could occasionally be a bit of a chore."

"Well I'm glad you decided to keep it at its current length, Robin."

Giving Harris an amused look the tactician asked, "Did you not summon me in your ideal interpretation of my form? You might as well say you're glad you have this kind of taste."

"Oh sure, deny my genuine compliments and interest as simple quirks of quantum and metaphysical mumbo jumbo."

"I don't think those are the exact topics that relate to the current situation."

Harris shrugged, gently lifting a handful of Merlin's silken strands as he went through them with a finely constructed comb made of flawless wood, hardly any snarls to be found but being dealt with all the same.

"I'm many things. Historian, assassin, terrorist, schemer, traitor, soldier…I don't think linguist was counted among them, however."

"You forgot lover~!"

All but purring at his continued attention Merlin's cheerful editorial was met with a snort from Robin, the draconic woman idly musing, "I thought that was a given."

"If I wasn't sure we'd be interrupted the moment we tried anything fun and engaging I would endeavor to show you just how much of a lover I can be. I think I'm finally getting the hang of shifting into things that aren't pre existing ideas or forms, wholly unique to my imagination and imagination alone."

The sensuous lip smacking that left Merlin didn't leave much to the imagination, the Magus of Flowers humming, "Well isn't that promising? I can't wait to experience all of your unique little, shall we say, toys?"

"I'm still waiting on a meeting, woman. Don't do that to me."

"No promises~!"

Shaking his head in fond exasperation their little interplay was interrupted by a sudden knock on the door, a guard's muffled voice stating, "The Empress requests your presence."

"Well that was fast, it hasn't even been an hour yet."

Returning to her scroll Robin pointed out, "Not entirely unexpected, the Shinto are under a time constraint when it comes to dealing with this matter in any form of expediency. Deciding how they wish to deal with you will be one significant roadblock removed."

"Us."

"You."

"If I die you disappear. Maybe? I actually don't know that part."

Merlin nuzzled into his side as he set down the comb, simply stating, "Even if your soul isn't necessary for our existence on this plane we would have no desire to continue living after your demise."

"...Okay, I know I manifested you that way but christ it's a little bit disturbing to hear you say it like that."

Robin smirked, teasing, "Having trouble owning up to your own proclivities and wants?"

"Yes. Believe it or not most people aren't given the opportunity to summon their ideal versions of characters they fantasized about when they were younger. This particular stove wasn't available to burn my hand on and thus learn from."

"Well the simple fact of the matter is that we will kill ourselves if you no longer existed."

Harris met the perfectly neutral and frank expressions of both Merlin and Robin, feeling a very unsettling feeling in his gut at that admission-

-and felt his eye twitch as both women broke down snickering at the exact same moment.

"Real funny. Seriously, I appreciate the humor."

"Can you blame us? You looked terrified at the mere possibility, master~!"

Robin took pity on him, her tail brushing his wrist while she explained, "We are exactly as you wished for us to be, Harris. Body and soul. And while we are loyal and subservient to your wishes and desires we are not dependent on them. While I have no idea if we would stay corporeal after your hypothetical death we would carry on as our personal wishes and wants dictated."

"Among the many things you wanted of us when we answered your call liberty to choose and act - as long as we did not contradict your designs - was chief among them. Or are you not one who values personal freedom?"

Raising his hands in defeat Harris mused, "All right, you got me…not very nice of you to give me a heart attack though."

Robin offered up an unrepentantly smug grin.

"And since when do we have the chance to make a man as composed and experienced as you fret like a little schoolgirl?"

"Christ, I see Grima's evil influence has taken hold just fine."

Peals of laughter followed him out of the room, the quartet of guards keeping their distance while simultaneously glaring with great animosity as Harris merely shrugged, shouting back into the room, "If I get imprisoned or something I expect the cavalry to come running!"

"You'll be fine, master! At this point they'll either give you a medal or behead you, not drag out the process!"

"And ain't that the truth?"

"So, am I to be incarcerated or allowed to wander freely? Or shall we go on to explore even more interesting extremes?"

Amaterasu didn't even pretend to be vaguely interested in his words upon entering her now familiar chambers, simply and blandly stating, "Your terms and conditions are agreed upon and shall be honored. You will be treated as a guest across all of our lands with no exception made or allowed. For services rendered, of course."

The latter statement had the same feeling as pulling teeth but it was announced all the same, Harris letting himself down in a chair without invitation as he replied, "I'm happy to hear that. So, is that all that-"

"To further cement this union and occasion you are to be wed to Princess Yasaka to solidify the ties between our people. Congratulations, king from afar…your bride is of the highest pedigree and beauty."

Raising an eyebrow at the acidic words Harris mused, "So the little fox really went all in with her little plot, hmm? And here I thought she was content to simply settle for manners of seduction."

The pointed scowl from the goddess was as sharp as the end of a dagger.

"You knew what she was attempting, then."

"Of course I knew. While she was by no means a total novice the sudden turn from warily friendly and curious about the outside world to total intrigue and enamorent was a bit too sudden. I'm quite the charming and attractive individual, certainly, but not that alluring."

He allowed a smug smirk to adorn his lips.

"I have experience in spotting a clever and scheming woman. More than a few femme fatales tried to lead me on in the past and I know how to identify the makings of one."

"...Femme fatale?"

Amaterasu's warily inquisitive tone was met with a dismissive wave of Harris' hand, the shapeshifter replying, "Don't worry about it. And you don't need to worry about Yasaka either, I'll speak to her and make it clear that she doesn't need to cast aside her future or anything like that for the sake of Japan, I'll honor the agreements that were agreed upon regardless if she decides to wed me."

His fingers cupped his chin, thoughtfully musing, "I've come to enjoy the company and companionship of the fox siblings too much to ask them to make sacrifices on my account. I'd hate to see the princess's future ruined or made more difficult simply because she felt the wholly unnecessary need to put a wedding ring on the finger of a stranger from afar, merely to assuage the needs of a needlessly worried public."

Amaterasu's brow twitched, tone frosty as she asked, "You seem to be well aware of what such a binding contract would entail, but encouraged her to continue along with her binding strategy regardless?"

"And you believe outright rejection or denial would have kept her from pursuing that very same scheme?"

The goddess quietly sighed, eyes drifting closed in clear resignation.

"No. The children of Kaiyo are far too willful and stubborn to ever admit defeat in such a complete manner. They take after their mother in that regard to an almost detrimental degree."

"Must be why I like them so much, I have it on good authority that I'm fairly uncompromising and willful myself."

Amaterasu's expression soured, her agreement with that statement needing no verbal confirmation as Harris cheerfully stated, "Well I may as well plan for the future. If I can't deny Yasaka from trying to be my most lovely betrothed then the least I can do is make her look good in doing so. After all, a foreign king is much more impressive than a foreign barbarian…the only question is what kingdom should I conquer? I hear Hell's weather is quite lovely, maybe I should go there on my next vacation?"

The wary, cornered expression the goddess wore as she began to contemplate the idea that he might one day carry authority equal to hers beyond simple acting was a sight that warmed the man's heart.

"I mean, I wouldn't want to leave my princess wanting, would I?"

"Well?"

[Need you ask? 'Widespread' conditions have been met, well done. Feel free to accept your newfound strength and manifested soul at your leisure.]

"Much obliged, oh taskmaster of mine."

[As if you do not revel in the journey I have laid out for you to pursue.]

"Hmm, you really do know me well."

Smiling to himself as he made his way back to his room without so much as a single guard to hound his footsteps - at least no visible ones, that was - Harris contemplated his next moves going forward, of what his immediate goal should be.

There was certainly no shortage of events going on throughout the world. The altered history he'd sent Europe on with Charlemagne's death held promise although he might be neglecting the supernatural side of things in that theater to his own detriment. After all, Heaven, the Devils and Fallen would be affected by that fallout quite heavily. Charlemagne's son, Louis the Pious, had been the sole true successor to the man's Empire and had managed to rule reasonably well, given that his sire had been a force of personality and will…the problems that had plagued Louis' rule had been ones of an entirely different variety than the ones facing Charlemagne.

His actions meant that the comparatively massive kingdom would never come about, maybe even fall apart if things got bad enough…and therewithin laid opportunity for the various extranatural of the world. The Devils - and possibly the Fallen - would be looking to carve away whatever bits and pieces they could conceivably find while Heaven did the opposite, trying to keep the whole thing together so they could have a far reaching base of power in the mortal realms.

…And provided his slighting of Beelzebub had left a lasting impression on the Underworld, his return could spark all sorts of fun.

"I'm starting to like this idea more and more."

Softly whistling to himself as he strode down the hallway the man reflected that he also had to consider another matter that was of paramount importance, namely the next summoning of whichever partner would walk by his side. Robin and Merlin had proven quite conclusively that their unique skillsets translated into the DxD world without issue and that opened up no shortage of possibilities…essentially, he could call upon someone or something and it's natural abilities as he understood them would function perfectly fine.

"Oh well don't I have just the soul in mind then?"

Smirking at the direction his thoughts turned the shapeshifter arrived at their quarters, sliding open the door and announcing, "Good news. We're not dead, I might just have a fox loli wife soon and I can go about summoning our newest companion."

Under most circumstances such a statement would have been met with no shortage of scowls or frowns, seeing as how most sane individuals wouldn't exactly be enthused that they were about to have competition.

He was thankful that his soulmates were anything but normal.

"Oh~? Does that mean we get to tease little Yasaka more~?"

"Maybe after the first date. But first?"

He grinned, strength flowing into his body as he accepted his benefactor's latest gift.

"Let's throw out the red carpet."

To be worshipped was to be burdened with expectations. Some rose to the challenge, some suffered under that imposed collar. The greater the prayer, the heavier the weight of anticipation and reliance from those that offered up their hopes and dreams.

She knew all too well what could happen to those who were unprepared to accept such a colossal responsibility but strived to do so anyway, the slow and gradual wasting away of a soul that had been unprepared to accept what was undeniably an impossible mission.

…If she had known what the fate of her first, true friend would eventually be when forming a contract with her she would have rather remained completely and irrevocably alone, never knowing the warmth of another's smile, laughter, teasing, rage, sadness or affection. She had a newfound, bitter appreciation for the saying 'there is nothing worse when sad to remember a time when one was happy' that she had heard a few humans bandy about on occasion.

But the past could not be changed, no more than one could move the stars with their bare hands. She had slumbered and rested in a world of strife, where rampaging monsters, spirits and demons wearing a human's skin had reigned supreme. All the while being hailed as a blade of salvation, an instrument that - as long as a worthy wielder could be found - would deliver them from evil and enslavement.

Not that she ever found such a wielder. Many came and many tried but her instinctive judgment had always found them…lacking. Some were greedy, seeking to use her power and reputation merely to bolster themselves. Others were violent, either intrinsic murderers or revenge-hungry survivors that cared nothing else but for carnage.

A fair few felt promising - driven souls that genuinely wished to save and protect a world from the troubles and strife that plagued it - but had always had something, for lack of a better word, lacking.

Then, one day, a hand closed around her hilt and everything had just felt…right.

Justice. Warmth. Compassion. Drive. Happiness. Steel.

Shining blonde hair had framed a young, smiling face as a human girl barely out of her youth greeted the sword with a smile as bright as the sun, voice a cheerful chorus that had left her blinking at its openness.

Her contractor and her first friend, even if she hadn't realized the latter until much later.

The days, weeks, months and years that followed were almost blinding in their novelty, a gargantuan departure from the sedentary half-awake state she had resided in for uncountable years. Her contractor hadn't been one to sit idly, to let evil and injustice grow and fester when action could otherwise be taken. They had departed for foreign lands almost immediately, the divine blade content to carry out her purpose and not having anything to say on the matter.

Except aforementioned contractor had treated her like a person instead of a weapon.

Where do you want to eat? Do you want to wear these clothes? Have you combed your hair? Do you think we should trust them? Can I hug you? Was that tasty? Do you have to use the bathroom before we leave? Do you know how to dance? Do you like boys or girls? Do you think that spirit was really tough or did I just mess up? Do you ever remove your knee socks?

…The last question had always had the divine blade shivering with all sorts of hot, cold and electric emotions that always precluded her shifting into sword form without further prompting. Her contractor had just laughed and said she was 'shy'.

Sometimes the girl was downright overbearing, leaving the sword spirit overwhelmed and even a bit frustrated at the constant questions and inquiries. What did it matter what she thought or felt about anything? She was to fight and protect her contractor and that was it.

…

Well, her being asked for her opinion on what sweets tasted best wasn't too bad.

And that had been it. Within just a few months what had at first seemed like a hassle and unneeded waste of energy had become familiar. Welcome. A certainty that she could rely on.

It had also blinded her for the longest time to what was happening to her contractor.

Inbetween the sword spirit's power and her contractor's relentless drive they had quickly accrued a reputation as saviors and saints, the title of 'Holy Maiden' being passed around quite a bit. Naturally, the more people that became aware of her the more that requested her help. The more people they were unable to help. And she had only noticed it when the things she had begun to take for granted were taken away.

Less questions, less concerns. Less chances for fun or for seeing the sights of the world. And the reason why had become apparent when the sword spirit one day found her contractor ill, body worn and tired from constant traveling and fighting.

It had been her turn to ask the questions, to ask what her contractor thought or felt. And she had obviously recognized the sword spirit's distress, endeavoring to return to how things had been when they first met when she could.

But at long last they had tracked down their foe, the demon responsible for so much of the world's suffering. They had fought, they had bled and been pushed to their absolute limits…and they had won. Their foe cast down, defeated and broken as victory at long last had been achieved.

And then she had watched her contractor - her friend - die in front of her, killed by the very power she had been unknowingly poisoning her with.

Every smile, every treat, every hug…all despite the sword spirit's power to purify other spirits passing along the burden to her friend, slowly but surely eroding and killing her.

She had watched the one, singular thing in her life that mattered fade to nothing with a bitter smile and regret-filled expression…but not at her. NEVER at her, even though she was the architect of her death at the zenith of what should have been a triumphant and happy ending.

Not once had her friend ever held anything but affection and care for her, a final unintentional cruelty. Had she been scorned, spurred or hated perhaps that would have been easier. A harsh lesson to be sure, but an important one that she could learn from…but forgiveness? Love even in the face of death?

It had been more than the spirit could bear, choosing to hide herself away from the world and refuse any and all contractors that did manage to track her down, no matter how worthy or unworthy they might be.

Never again would she kill the one who wielded her.

Years, decades…perhaps even centuries? Time passed in a haze as she languished in solitude, unable to return to the quiet idleness and half-awake state of mind she used to occupy. She had tasted what it was like to feel, to experience things as mortal men and women did and couldn't bring herself to go back.

Silence. Silence and memories. To remember a time when she was happy.

And then from nowhere, from a power she hadn't ever considered, a deal was offered.

Serve a new contractor, one that wouldn't suffer from her powers and could wield her freely. Serve, and be granted what she missed the most. Friendship. Love. To travel and experience the world as she once did.

…She'd like to pretend she had stopped to consider the strange offer for more than a second.

Muted white light filled the interior of the room, softly fading away and coalescing into the shape of a young girl with flowing pale hair that fell around her lithe body, dark ribbons decorating a few strands while she was completely bare aside from the shining material of a pair of midnight knee socks, violet eyes staring into Harris' own with an unknown emotion swirling within.

"Terminus Est has answered your call…are you to be my new contractor?"