Extra 16: Gate (20)

"Sir, I think we made a serious mistake, one that the hostages will not forgive us for" - said a soldier with concern - "From what I heard, Kurama-dono is a kind person who has helped them during the last few weeks."

"I know, I made a mistake with my concern for our future safety" - Hazama muttered as he started to think about how to solve his current situation. Getting on the bad side of a god as soon as he arrived did not bode well for his fate in this place.

"The worst thing is that we don't know anything about Kurama-dono other than his name and that of his city" - added another soldier, a black-haired man with glasses.

"We'd have to ask the hostages, although looking at the method of transportation that man used..." - muttered another soldier as he frowned.

"We lose nothing by trying" - said Itami as he shrugged his shoulders with a bored attitude - "Though I share the opinion that it wasn't the best idea to get on the bad side of a god, or at least someone powerful enough to be called one."

"Ok, Itami, you take charge of gathering information, the others, I want you to investigate the surroundings and get as much information as we can, if it's related to [Samsara], all the better" - Hazama ordered while sighing regretfully because it was obvious that this was going to be a pain in the ass.

* * * * *

"Kurama-sama, we should have annihilated them" - said Tyuule as the group returned to the white-haired man's office - "The other gods have to be furious with their enormous disrespect for you"

"Their weapons are more dangerous than you think, I'm sure I won't come to any harm, but you are a separate issue" - replied Kurama with a frown because he recognized those firearms. The humans that passed through that portal, they are of a similar dimension to his first life, or at least from the few details he still remembered.

The three women looked at each other until they heard someone knocking on the door.

"Come in" - Kurama replied calmly as she watched a small group enter. They consisted of Cato, the archmage who had been living in this city for three years because it was a much more peaceful place than his old home, along with his two students, Piña along with her escorts, the leader of the forest elves along with his daughter, and Yao, who was now serving as an intermediary between her tribe and Kurama per Hardy's orders.

"I heard that you went to the humans from the other world, Kurama-sama" - Cato said as his eyes sparkled with interest.

"Yes, they are interesting, with weapons that could harm even a dragon" - Kurama replied as he shrugged his shoulders.

"And they are rude and disrespectful" - snorted Mizari as she folded her arms.

"That detail aside, I'm sure you guys have questions or something you want to tell me, and seeing as you're all together, I think it's important" - said Kurama as he sat on his throne and looked at the group that had arrived.

"Well, we have been waiting and when I felt that you had returned thanks to the magical chaos produced by your teleportation, I decided to knock on the door" - replied Cato with embarrassment.

"Umu, please say what you have come for" - said Kurama, only to sigh when he heard the sound of someone knocking on his door again - "Come in."

After his words, the high priests of the different religions that inhabited [Samsara], entered one after another. Each of them had a cold expression on their faces, which showed that their gods were not very happy.

"Let me guess, your gods asked to come to see me to talk about the annihilation of those humans" - said Kurama with boredom.

"Yes, thanks to your presence, they could hear their attempt of blasphemy" - answered Hardy's priest, who seemed only to wish to create a holy crusade against the invaders.

"I understand how you feel, but I recommend you not to do anything stupid" - said Kurama while releasing a little of his power, this was not to scare the mortals, but to send a message to the gods - "Those humans are more dangerous than they seem, I managed to see a little of their world, and they are thousands of people divided into different kingdoms, each one of them has the military power to be able to annihilate the empire with utmost ease, if you start a holy war against them, all your followers will be annihilated and your status as gods will end."

"Then what do you propose?" - Asked a slightly distorted male voice coming from the high priest of Emroy's church.

"For now we will see what they are going to do, maybe their reaction was a product of the fact that in their world there are no gods, or they are simply an illusion created by a collective, I don't know, I don't care either, but what I can assure you, is that they are preparing to fight even against us if necessary" - replied Kurama with a frown - "That's why they asked a question, they wanted to see if they could kill us in case any of us became their enemy."

"That doesn't take away from the fact that it's blasphemy against us, darling ~" - said a female voice that released an enormous amount of seduction, domination and madness. It was as if it was the voice of a tyrant who enjoyed watching the suffering of others, but what made it more disturbing, was that it came from an elderly man.

"I know, Hardy, but it doesn't change the fact that if there is a war, your domain will be overcrowded, to the point that your powers could get out of control, that goes for you too, Emroy" - Kurama said with a frown.

Those present were silent because they were shocked that their gods would use their priests as vessels to be able to communicate with the god of reincarnation.

"Mortals, I ask you to leave, this conversation is too important to be heard by you" - said an imposing voice.

Tyuule and the others looked at each other before nodding.

"Hmm, it's a pity that you are not ready, I would have liked much better to use your body as a container, Yao ~" - Hardy said while licking her lips, although this was disturbing because she was still wearing the skin of the old priest of her church.

Those present shivered when they saw this bizarre scene before leaving.

Yao for her part only shook her head because Hardy had already told her that she wanted her to be her priestess, the one in charge of being able to connect her to the mortal world until she could regulate the situation in the underworld and thus be able to take a little rest.

Gods could descend, or in Hardy's case, ascend to the mortal world, but they needed many preparations depending on the duration of their arrival. Kurama was a special case, not only because he was not a god originating from this dimension's pantheon, but because his domain could be controlled from anywhere.

"Putting that aside, why do you call Kurama Onii-sama "darling"?" - A slightly childishly feminine voice asked.

"Because we are interconnected ~" - smiled Hardy as she did a half turn.

"If so, we are much more connected, remember I'm the one who sends mortals to your domain" - replied Emroy as he let out a lunatic laugh - "Come on, call me darling ~"

"Don't even think about it, old man" - growled Hardy disdainfully.

"Tch, the difference in the way you act just because of our looks is disgusting, and for the record, we're the same age, you old hag" - Emroy replied disdainfully.

"What did you call me!" - Hardy exclaimed angrily as the room began to shake just by releasing a fragment of her power.

"Please don't fight in my office, and Hardy, please relax because you're about to kill your priest, and you won't be able to talk to us anymore" - said Kurama as he watched the goddess of the underworld clicked her tongue.

"Thank you for keeping order, Kurama-dono" - said a male voice that showed an aura of wisdom and respect - "While I understand your viewpoint, and that we still need to observe everything, we can't just ignore their disrespect to ourselves. Don't you think the same, sister?"

"Elange is right, as would be expected from the god of knowledge" - said a female voice proudly - "I, as the goddess of learning, share your opinion".

"Stop giving each other praise, you pair of idiots" - said the imposing voice while looking at the two siblings - "Ral, I know you love your brother, but I think that's enough."

"Don't get hot, Flare, they just want to show their closeness" - said Emroy sarcastically as he watched the sun god scowl.

"What do the others think?" - Kurama asked as he ignored these gods who seemed to be about to fight.

"Their weapons are strange, they were not forged in the traditional way, I feel no passion in them" - said a deep voice, which was funny because the man that the god of forging had taken possession of, was a weakling. He was Duncan, the god of smithing.

"Maybe we could come to an agreement?" - asked a man with an intellectual voice - "You can leave the job to me".

"Deldort is right, we could come to an agreement to keep the peace between the two parties" - said Zufmuut, the god of light and justice.

"Oh, spoke the hypocrite" - said Emroy with disdain.