Chjapter 430 – Getting a Little Help
*** Goddess of the Kitsune ***
Alzi is off doing some interesting things in the divine realm. I promised to make her a Goddess, and she's off working with the demoness to do the same thing and making me look bad here.
"Nanoka!" I shout. "Good, I was worried you were too far from me. Now, you've taken a great first step, but you need to keep working."
"Kou told me she knew what your goals were," Nanoka says. "A bit strange that a maid knows about the plans that the old Queen doesn't know about."
"Yes, Kou is a smart girl, and you would worry too much if I told you," I say. "You haven't truly gotten Alzi to love you, but close. Maybe next time I see you, these tails will show their secret to you. Alzi has a ritual that I want you near. One that she just discussed with her hated wives. I guess she doesn't really hate them too much now. Less liked wives. Get Yuki and Nakuma there as well if possible. Now, I have things to do. Good luck with your second love life. It's starting beautifully."
It's a bit rude to throw her out so fast, but there are two women I need to warn about things to come. I told Alzi I'll help, so I can't exactly stop her from doing the ritual, but I can make sure we don't have more issues with the realms. I don't need higher realm beings for my Kitsunes to compete with. We just started beating out the dragons for strength.
Fertility first. She's going to be the harder one to convince. Should I get Space in on this as well? It could help to have her in on this. I doubt things go as smoothly as the demoness thinks. Movement will be important.
See how Fertility takes it, and then I can see if I need more help.
"This is a cozy home," I say. "Fertility! I have some things to talk about. Important things. Private things."
"Go away," Fertility says.
"I can't. Alzi is doing things she shouldn't, and I promised to help her, and you want to help her as well, I'm sure," I say. This girl. "Let me in so I can explain it. You'll want in on this for personal reasons as well. It'll be more than Alzi getting what she wants through this."
She's silent for a bit, but a dryad peeks out from the second floor, and that must be the signal to let me in. The door opens to see the pregnant Goddess. That will need to change for this. Break it to her slowly.
"Thank you," I say. "You've got a wonderful home. I'm starting to see why you don't spend much time in your temple. Kind of like Sea's shoreline. Where would you like to talk?"
"This way," Fertility says.
We just go to the living room. Contract is messing with some toys in the corner. I should be able to trust Alzi's daughter, so I take a seat on a couch, careful with my tails.
"Alzi has some plans for revenge," I say. "I wonder if that will be the Goddess in your or her belly? Would be nice. Of course, it could just be a replacement instead now, what I need your help with. Three on one isn't going to work. I don't like fighting, and I think you have some issues with two of the women that Alzi is going after. Well, two, if my listening is right, and I'm sure it is. The other will likely just come due to hatred of Alzi and everything."
"Names," Fertility says. "Names and tell me how you know this."
"Very well," I say. "Justice and Sex are Alzi's goal. I found Alzi coming up to meet with Malralloz and listened in. I had offered her help becoming a Goddess in return for some extra kids for my kitsunes. With her goddess children and all the markings, it was bound to happen, but an extra Goddess pushing her wouldn't hurt. Then Future offered Malralloz a ritual from the elders, and well, I can't say no to it."
"What kind of ritual?" Fertility asks, her hands moving to protect her womb. Why?
"I'm not here to hurt you," I say. "I want you to be safe, and I want Alzi to be safe. That includes the kids. The ritual should allow for some new elder Goddesses. You can guess who Future is hoping for. I wonder how it will go. Malralloz wants a sister, I'm sure."
"Why am I needed?"
"To fight!" I chuckle. "Girl, think I can trust just anyone for this? Sea may be willing to do it, but she's pregnant and will be for a while. Death will just sit there and say she's happy to have women dying. Space, maybe, but she may just run away with Alzi instead. You. You want revenge. A single kid wasn't revenge or justice. Come on. You're willing to take Nature's head. I think Malralloz can take the other two. Sex is so weak, and Justice doesn't really have an idea of what she fights for anymore. But for that, we need that baby out of you."
"No!" Fertility says. "That would..."
"Fertility, you can grow the baby and give birth tomorrow if you want," I say. "You can have Alzi get you pregnant again after the ritual. Everything will be fine. Contract is still happy listening to all this."
"But a dryad will have to give birth."
"Why? Why would that even be a problem?"
"I. I don't know," Fertility says. "Just feels like it would be."
"Well, it isn't a problem," I say. "Go bring Alzi up here, have the kid, and then work with me to take Nature's head."
"You make it sound so simply."
"You have the Goddess of tricks with you," I say. "How hard could it possibly be to trick Nature into not seeing you there till her head is separated from her shoulders? Get Space involved, and you'll get next to her without a single problem. I don't like to fight, but I'll be there to help you, and I'm sure Malralloz will join us. Three fighting against Nature will be enough. Malralloz is basically an elder Goddess herself, if not stronger. Future may even give us a bit of help. I'm sure she would love more sacrifices to help her get both her sisters to come to life."
"I'll think about it."
"You don't have long," I say. "Alzi has most of what she needs already."
"Thank you for the warning," Fertility says. "I'll make it quickly."
"Thank you," I say. "Congratulations on the kids. If Alzi and I get together?"
"I'll let you have some kids," Fertility sighs. "It is nice having the kids with me. Who else are you going to talk to about this?"
"Death and Space, so they can keep the realms from splitting again. Space is the one that would be more important for that now. Death will be important to keep the Goddesses from doing anything from beyond the grave."
"They shouldn't care about things," Fertility says. "Good luck."
"Unfortunate that I can't have Alzi's kid bless me for that. But good idea. Tell Alzi to get Luck's blessing for some of her upcoming activities."
"I should. Now, I have things to decide and you have women to convince."
"Yes, I do," I say. "Is Space pregnant?"
"Yes, goodbye."
So rude. Kicking me out just as I was coming up with another topic to discuss! Hmph. I'll see if Space is more talkative. I know Death won't be any better.
...
"Space! I want to talk," I say.
"About what?" Space asks, bringing me into her temple. Some prayer room, I think. Hard to know what everyone calls the rooms. Some get a bit prickly about using the wrong name when it's just a room.
"Alzi," I say. "All things Alzi. You have a weird marriage with her, and you've had one kid and are pregnant again. Right?"
"Do you think a Goddess can be this fat normally?" Space asks.
"Fair enough," I say. "Just want to ask. You never know. Death doesn't look like the rest of us, and I have a bunch of tails behind me you don't have. I didn't remember you being fat, but things change. Sometimes. Congratulations."
"Thank you," Space says. "But I doubt you came here to ask about a pregnancy you knew about already. What else is there about Alzi?"
"Revenge," I say. "She wants it and is working with Malralloz to get it. I'm hoping you will help keep the realms from splitting again. It's annoying having the realms and all that. Also, I think Malralloz and Alzi will need some help. So if you could get Fertility to the ritual when needed, that would be great."
"Nothing about trying to stop it?" Space asks.
"No. Why would I do that? It isn't like we're losing anyone important. Maybe Nature is important, but I doubt that matters that much. I'm sure with the uptick in new Goddesses, we'll have someone take over for her soon enough. Killing them is fine for me and helps me keep my promise to Alzi to become a Goddess herself. We just need to keep this to those willing to help Alzi."
The temple disappears, the girl wanting to show off for a bit.
"I know you're a Goddess," I say. "You're powerful. I'm asking if you will help. Not if you are able to help. If you want to do this, you will. I'm just asking nicely for your help. This is a pretty view, and I do thank you for favoring my people with your affinity. I should've come by much sooner than this."
"What if I want more realms?" Space says.
"Then that is that," I say. "I can't force you to do something. But still have questions about helping Fertility kill Nature?"
"I'll do that," Space says. "I'll think about the rest. It could be nice to have more realms."
"Thank you," I say. I guess I shouldn't be surprised she doesn't care about keeping my people special, even if she likes them. "Congratulations again. I'll let you know about the timing. My Champion should be nearby with yours as well, so maybe I don't need to tell you about it. We'll see how well they get together. Alzi has a lot of champions in her harem."
"Yes," Space says. "I see why Mother kicked you out."
"Not you too," I say. Here I am getting out and risking my life visiting these women, and they just kick me out! I'll have to convince Alzi to get us all together sometime. They can't kick me out then. Well, time for Death. Should be easy. Just tell her to create some space for some goddesses, and she'll groan and do it. I know Poison is her favorite soul she has.
...
"Death!"
"Go away! I already know."
"You were so nice when Alzi visited," I say.
"How would you know?"
"Guessing? You have your favorite Valkyrie next to her. Geta is even pregnant now. Just a short chat. I'm running around, and none of you want to talk to me! I'm always free to talk to. No need to throw me out."
"I've got the room. Just handle the rest."
"Fine," I say. "Congratulations on your Valkyrie getting pregnant. Thank you for the help." No wonder a plan to kill Goddesses is going to go off so easily. It's hard to get women who are already working together to sit down and talk things through! We deserve these deaths coming to us.