HORNI Eggplant Enjoying A Simple Life (Campione - Calm Eggplant AU - Mash SI Chapter 2)

As turned another corner in this magical mansion following cold wind of all things-in a semi-physical form-I clicked my tongue at how chaotic my life was becoming.

It hadn't been two weeks since I've ascended to the ranks of godslaying Devil Kings, and I'm already with wacky anime shit.

At least it's not mystery. I thought with no objection from Inner Mash. This seemed like a straight up shounen fight set up.

While the plane was flying over China over some mountain range, that I felt had a massive amount of magical energy just laying, not dormant, but on standby. Naturally, using the Powers of Common Sense, I told the pilot to take a long way around and not pass over it.

Except, the mountain chain just suddenly vanished, and appeared in in our path again, under us. The magical, divine energy build up quickly, and I immediately responded by getting everyone on the plane into the captain's cabin-thankfully there were only five of us, including me and Yuri-and deployed Lord Camelot.

The plan was shot down by some ice arrows, and we landed on one of the mountain tops. I genuinely hope we didn't land on one of Kunlun Mountain's peaks, the magical one. Knowing anime luck though, it's definitely one.

We crash landed into the entrance garden of some magical mansion of sorts. Given that everything is exaggerated when it comes to Chinese celestial realms and myths, it was large enough for the plane to fit into after hitting the ground and stopping.

The place was cold and covered in a layer of snow. Suddenly Yuri cried and was carried by the wind, vanishing before I could reach her. So I figured that this place was part of Authority, or realm of whichever Heretic God was here. Meaning their influence extents to any point in this mansion.

I said to the HCC members to leave this place and find shelter. It would be safer than whatever the Heretic God might do to them in their domain, and I couldn't afford to focus on protecting them every second we where here. I had to get inventive and cast a spell that would teleport them to the nearest civilization once they were outside the influence of this mini-realm, along with a shield spell based on Lord Camelot. That should keep them safe. I hope.

Yuri was the priority now.

I rushed into the mansion, focusing on Yuri's life signature. Given how much kissing and petting we did, she had a lot of my energy within her, and in turn my Authority. Which meant she was protected by my power even away from me, so the cold of this place won't bother her.

I could feel that she was physically find, although afraid and nervous. But at least I could tell she wasn't being tortured by the deity, just held prisoner. Well, if this Heretic God wanted my attention and wanted me to meet them, they definitely fucking got it. I summoned my armor and got to work.

Yet, even as I ran through the mansion following both Yuri's signature and the magic wind giving directions, my mind was focused on clues to the Heretic God's identity. I picked up clues as I navigated this place.

The mansion's location being in Mount Kunlun, didn't necessarily say the Heretic God was of the Chinese Mythology. That could have been a coincidence or some other syncretism, however the architecture of mansion was definitely on the Chinese side of things. Two points toward the Heretic God being from this side of the world.

However it's the furniture and decorations within the mansion that surprised me.

It was Nordic.

There were many rune symbols around, and other iconography.

So this deity was one that traveled from China to Scandinavia? Or vice versa? Another question, given all the snow outside, and how I could see some of the items and furniture within the mansion being made of ice, was there a Winter God in Chinese Mythology that was rewarded or given a mansion? I couldn't come up with one off the top of my head.

Also this mansion, while the size of a normal human palace, it was probably one that belonged to a minor god, given how things are usual represented in this type of mythology. Xianxia novel inspirations had to come from somewhere. So this definitely wasn't a place for an emperor. Not king or duke either. A count or viscount maybe?

I didn't think of these questions for long, as all too soon I reached the throne room.

I reached the room with the Heretic God an Yuri...and felt completely thrown off.

First, Yuri. She was fine, completely safe and unharmed, physically or mentally. Not mind controlled or anything, thank, well, not this goddess.

Also yes, the Heretic God was a goddess. An ice one given the sheer coldness from her aura.

Okay, neat, so likely Tengliu. One question solved.

Yuri was sitting on a chair with a square coffee table in front of her, with some untouched cups. Guess courtesy is a must to save face. Yuri wasn't in a cell or anything thankfully. She was one a, I didn't know what to call it, elevated ground, platform? She was literally two step higher than flat ground, with a ankle high...wall? fence? pen? I didn't know what to call it.

It didn't look like she was confined in place, but then again with this goddess's control over this place, she probably didn't need to make a prison.

After that one second look to see this situation, confirm Yuri's safety, and look at the room for traps, I finally focused on the Heretic God...and that's when my confusion came in.

In the back of my mind, I was coming up with idea on who this goddess was, her other forms and identities, but what I consciously focused on was my gut reaction.

I've heard about the innate battle lust that occurs when a Campione meets a Heretic God, with the god feeling the same plus hostility and animosity.

However when I saw the goddess...currently my Fight and Fuck instincts were both activating at the same time.

And I wasn't fully sure if I wanted to go with Fight.

"Mash!" Yuri shouted in relief and joy at seeing me. "Are you okay? Is...Is everyone alright?"

"I'm good, so is everyone. They left to find shelter." I said to calm Yuri down and relieve her of her worries.

"Ah, you finally arrived, Usurper. This Skadi has been awaiting you." Spoke the Heretic God, before giving a sly smile. "Good for you that you did not dally, lest I'd have grown bored of entertain my guest." She said with a 'subtly' that very clearly implied what would have happened if I wasn't swift in getting here.

I logically understood the threat. I logically catagorized how the goddess could be dangerous, like her staff for casting magic, but could also be used as a spear due to the blades edge. Or the bow made of ice resting against to her throne (maybe she's genderbent Hou Yi like this is some Nasu shit).

I logically understood the danger of this situation.

But what came out of my mouth was:

"Huh. So that's what authors mean with the term 'jade beauty'." Well, it seemed the 'lust' in battle lust was in the front now.

"...Eh!?" Skadi was completely thrown off. Like her gripe on her staff loosened before she tightened it again. Her firm stoic expression with hints of slyness and cruelty was thrown off, to show a blushing maiden. She coughed to the side and quickly her mask was back on. "Hmph, a Campione with manners. I suppose impossibilities do happen."

"Does she have guest rights?" I shook my head and focused. I can flirt after I can confirm Yuri's safety.

No, wait I'm not suppose to flirt at all.

"...What?" The goddess was thrown off again by the non-sequitur.

"My companion, Yuri," I gestured toward the hime-miko. "She's important to me as you already know since you kidnapped her." Skadi frowned at my tone, but I continued before she could say something about being offended. "I don't want her to be hurt. Yet, you called her your 'guest', so I'm simply confirming," I said making Skadi's eyes widen at the implication, before settling on a neutral look. "Does she have guest rights?"

I was half fast-talking half hoping godly pride and the need to 'save face' would push the goddess to leave Yuri out of any confrontation.

"...She is tolerable for a mortal, so long as she doesn't interrupt this trade, she will be unharmed." Skadi settled.

"I see." I let out a sigh in relief. "To think that despite being a Goddess of Snow, you'd have such a warm heart to match your beauty, it seems we're blessed to have landed in this mansion."

Yuri was looking at me agapped, then pouted at my perverted flirting.

"She...crashed our plane here..." Yuri said slowly.

"Sorry, she's so hot, I forgot." Okay, mouth? We really need to have a talk of you going off on your own like that.

"S-Shameless! Lady Mash is so shameless!" Yuri cried out with fiery pouting. Aww, she's so cute even when angry.

"Ehehehehe..." I bashfully smiled rubbed the back of my head.

"Hiccup!"

Both Yuri and I blinked and looked toward the rose-cheeked goddess.

Why is my heart beating so fast? It's just some Campione, yet her words keep affecting me so. Skadi thought, while trying to keep a stoic intimidating face.

Since this Campione entered her throne room they didn't-couldn't take their eyes off Skadi's form. The goddess was used to such attention and yearning for her. After all, was she not the most desired bride that the Nordic gods lined up to gain her hand...even if it had been through a convoluted contest that was completely rigged.

So no, she wasn't unused to such attention, even from another woman. She did have her hand maidens before when she was the Consort of the Wind Earl, that would attend her in such manners should the mood struck.

Yet she had never had such desire aimed at her with such...intensity before.

Is it because she's a Devil King, makes these circumstance feel different? Skadi wondered. No, Athena warned me that Zeus' Authorities might make me vulnerable.

However, Skadi was prepared, it's why she wasn't strictly using her own Authorities, but ones that belonged to her former husband, that she could commandeer. Be it the Archer Star Manor, or the Winds, supplemented by her Cold. And that was only what she displayed, not what she held back-such as the hidden iron to draw lightening away-to spring on the unsuspected Campione should they prove feral as the rest of her kind.

"A-hem," Skadi politely coughed to mask the earlier hiccup from when she was overwhelmed-Nay, only surprised by this Matthew Kyrielight's bold & honest-She meant foolish, foolish nature. One lead by fervent desire is but a naive prey before her. "You speak many flowery words, Lady Matthew, yet like hidden thorns, you are still dressed for battle. After all, since this is a discussion rather than a battle, you are also a guest here." She said with a sly smile, wanting to see how far this Campione play the role of the pacifist.

After all, even if she is Skadi, she had later become Artemis. Even if she does not wish to hold that aspect now, it is still a part of her. Thus guest rights do hold some weight now, and if Matthew Kyrielight broke them? As one who hold an Authority of Zeus, the consequences would be...dire.

Skadi didn't smirk at the situation the Campione put herself in by trying to be clever.

"Huh. Okay," Matthew dismissed her armor, throwing off Skadi. Then she began to unbutton her shirt and take her clothes off. "Although I don't know why I have to be naked for these negotiations."

"!" Skadi wanted to saying something, yet her brain simple frozen, words not coming out of her mouth, while her eyes took in the Campione's lithe, toned form.

L-Looking for weaknesses of course. The Snow Goddess thought to herself.

"M-M-Mash, I don't think she meant-" Matthew's hand maiden tried to say, while stuttering, red-faced and covering her eyes from viewing her Lady.

...Only to be looking at Matthew from between her fingers.

"A-hem." Skadi coughed and shut the hime-miko up with the gesture, as she didn't give her permission to speak in her presence. "Did you presume to speak for me, Hime-Miko?"

"N-No, you're majesty!" Yuri quickly said, before looking back and forth between the Devil King and the Heretic God in nervous rush, not sure what to do. Skadi thought it was kinda cute. She got why Matthew kept Yuri around.

That the Snow Goddess stopped Yuri from advising the Devil King from revealing her luscious form-making a fool of herself. That Yuri failed to stop Matthew from making a fool of herself-Skadi reaffirmed her thoughts-As she was saying, that was merely happenstance. Bad luck for Matthew Kyrielight.

Honestly, what idiot would take a statement to remove their magically protective armor, to meant to undress completely. A tantalizing nubile-A foolish fool, that's what!

Then Matthew finished talking off her undergarments, her last layer of dignity-

Skadi's thoughts halted.

That...that is...that's not real. Is it...?

"In case you're wondering." Matthew said in an exasperated tone. "Yes, that is the Authority I got from Zeus."

Skadi gulped. Her heart was beating like a hummingbird in her chest. Heat was rising to her face in a manner she never experienced before.

"...Oh." This situation was not as Skadi anticipated or planned for at all.

And why is it getting hard?!

Suddenly sitting as a stoic unfazed mastermind of an Ice Goddess was proving to be extremely difficult.

AN: So I had a lot of images picked for this, and since I'm probably not going to be using them, I'll leave them here for your viewing pleasures.