Chapter 448: The Nekomata Clan (III) & A Serious Discussion (I)...

[Youkai Territory, Kyoto] 

Kuroka turned towards her sister. After a few moments, Kuroka finally came to a decision. She turned towards Yasaka. "I would like to meet the leader of the Nekomata Clan" Kuroka said in a determined tone. 

'Meeting the leader doesn't mean that I have to join their clan' Kuroka mused internally. Even though she didn't have any sort of connection with her Clan, she simply wanted to see her mother's clan. Koneko simply decided to follow her sister's lead. 

After hearing Kuroka's answer, Yasaka nodded her head in understanding. "Then I will be arranging a meeting. The Nekomata Clan is part of another branch of the Youkai Faction" Yasaka answered and Kuroka raised her eyebrows in curiosity. 

"Aren't you the leader of the Youkai Faction?" Kuroka blurted out in an incredulous tone. Kuroka finally noticed her tone and looked slightly sheepish in embarrassment. 

Yasaka started to giggle and waved off Kuroka's concern. "Don't worry… your reaction was completely understandable. I am the leader of the Youkai Faction residing in Kyoto but there are some other Factions too. The Nekomata Clan is part of the Eastern Youkai Faction" Yasaka answered. 

After a few moments, Kuroka nodded her head in understanding. Yasaka's explanation seemed reasonable. "Is there anything you can tell me about our Clan?" Kuroka asked in a slightly hopeful tone. 

"There is not much to tell… The Nekomata mainly consist of females, with male Nekomata being rare among their species. Female Nekomata generally mate with the males of different races, mainly with human males, due to the traditional teachings" 

"The child born between a Human and a Nekomata will always be a Nekomata. If a Nekomata breeds with another species, their child will also inherit the characteristic of that partner's species. It is not my place to go into any more details" Yasaka answered and Kuroka nodded her head in understanding. 

While Kuroka didn't mind the explanation, Kunou and Koneko were having a really hard time hiding their blushes. They didn't consider such a topic coming up during a normal chat related to the Nekomata Clan. Both Nemuri and Dora nodded their heads in satisfaction. 

"Okay… so, when can I expect the meeting?" Kuroka questioned and Yasaka looked thoughtful for a moment. 

"Probably a couple of days" Yasaka said and some maids finally entered the room while carrying various sorts of refreshments. "Please dig in" Yasaka offered with a smile. 

"Kuroka, the Devils lifted up your charges. Did you notice anything different about the administration?" Yasaka asked curiously. Kuroka discreetly glanced towards Nemuri and Dora to see their reactions. Yasaka didn't notice the small gesture as she was busy with her daughter. 

"Are you perhaps asking about the leadership change?" Nemuri questioned and Yasaka's eyes grew wide in realization. 

"Yes, since you already know about it then I am going to assume that the Destroyer is involved?" Yasaka questioned and Nemuri gave a stiff nod with a complicated smile on her face. 

"He was involved but not exactly… he was simply fed up with the stupidity of the Devils, so he decided to appoint a competent leader" Nemuri said with a wry smile on her face. 

"Yeah… you shouldn't mess with her" Dora added from the side and Nemuri nodded her head with a solemn smile on her face. 

"Can you tell me anything?" Yasaka asked with a slightly worried look on her face. She didn't want to put her Race at any type of risk, so information was necessary. 

Nemuri glanced towards Kunou and Koneko. Yasaka followed Nemuri's glance and understood what the other nine-tailed fox meant. "Kunou, why don't you and Koneko go and play outside? Maybe show her around?" Yasaka said, looking towards her daughter. 

Kunou immediately understood what her mother meant. She stood along with some snacks in her hand and turned towards Koneko who was apparently doing the same. At least, their love for sweets and snacks were common. 

"Come on, Koneko" Kunou said and Koneko simply nodded her head and followed the other girl out of the room. After the two girls left, Yasaka turned back towards Nemuri. 

"A couple of days ago she massacred a lot of Exorcists just because she could" Nemuri said and Yasaka's eyes grew wide in fear. 

"...But that would spark a War" Yasaka pointed out but Nemuri, Dora, and Kuroka started to laugh. 

"She knows they won't… and even if they do she could easily crush everyone on her own" Nemuri said and Yasaka looked even more horrified. Currently, the Supernatural World was hanging on a delicate balance and if the balance was broken then a War would break out. 

"I pity the Devils" Dora chirped cheerfully and Kuroka didn't know if she should cry or laugh. Her experience with the Devils wasn't anything good but that didn't mean that she would condemn the whole Race. 

"Just stay away from her and nothing will happen… probably. Well, she is currently busy with the Devils and other two Biblical Factions, so it is safe for now" Nemuri said with an unsure look on her face. 

"...Is she also a lover of the Destroyer?" Yasaka questioned in a low tone. This was becoming outrageous. 

"Yes, but she is the strongest among all of his women so be wary of her if you ever meet her… she knows that I am your friend so she wouldn't probably do anything to you" Nemuri said and shrugged. 

"What's her name?" Yasaka questioned curiously. 

"Her name is Hela, she is the Goddess of Death and War" Dora chirped from the side and Yasaka nodded her head in understanding… 

[Lilith, Underworld] 

"I like you… you are smart. You know what is good for you. The Devil Race is a patriarchal Race, I need more girls like you" Hela said while looking outside the window. She was standing right in front of the window while Sona Sitri was sitting on the opposite side of the table.

"Thank you, that means a lot when coming from someone like you" Sona said in a respectful tone. Hela turned around and a grin appeared on her face. 

"Hmm… but someone smart like you should have called for reinforcements instead of rushing in blindly. I wonder why you didn't do that?" Hela asked curiously and cocked her head sideways. Sona was kind of expecting this question.

"I don't have any excuses for that… that was the most horrible mistake I could have ever made" Sona said and started to stare down at the desk in front of her. She didn't have the courage to stare at Hela.

"Not exactly… There are a lot more horrible mistakes you could have made. Something like lying to me… You aren't lying to me are you?" Hela trailed off with a grin on her face. Sona paled in fear when she heard Hela's words. Her knees started to shake in fear.

"Don't worry… I am not going to do anything to you. I know you aren't telling me the whole truth but it is fine. You are trying to protect your friend, that is a good trait" Hela said with a small nod. Hela had a satisfied smile on her face.

"I won't ask you about any details as I already have some idea… Rias Gremory along with her pawn wanted to save the day so they rushed in without thinking… without any other options, you decided to follow them" Hela finished and an apologetic smile appeared on Sona's face.

"I could have called for help while waiting outside" Sona muttered weakly and Hela simply snorted.

"Doing that would have led you to abandon your friend" Hela pointed out with a smile and plopped down in her seat. "I am not going to punish you but Rias Gremory is going to be punished" Hela said as she leaned back in her seat.

Sona's eyes grew wide in shock. "Why? I mean I am grateful that you aren't punishing me but both of us made the same mistake" Sona said with a slight look of worry on her friend. Sona thought that it wouldn't look good if she walked free and Rias was punished for committing the same crime.

All of a sudden Sona froze when she remembered who she was talking with. For a few seconds, Hela stared at the younger girl with a blank look on her face. Son was about to apologize but Hela started to cackle in mad glee.

"...I like you! You have your ovaries stacked in the right place" Hela complimented Sona and Sona didn't know what to think about the compliment so she simply ended up nodding her head.

"I am not punishing her for rushing in on her own… to be honest, I don't care if she died. I am going to punish her because she has no control of her own peerage" Hela said with a shrug. There wasn't anything Sona could do to help Rias. 

Yes, Genshirou Saji from her own peerage was also involved but in his statement, he said that he was forced by Issei Hyoudou and Koneko Toujou to accompany them. Hela couldn't punish Issei Hyoudou as he was dead and Koneko Toujou was protected due to her sister's deal. Punishing Yuuto Kiba won't bore her any results as it was the King's duty to maintain your peerage. 

Rias Gremory should have declared him as a Stray Devil as soon as he left the building without her permission. If you can't make that choice then you shouldn't have a peerage in the first place. Sona could only nod her head with a wry smile on her face.

"You may leave now…" Hela finally dismissed Sona. Sona gave a grateful nod and walked out of the room without saying anything else...

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1665 words in this chapter.

450 Power Stones= 2 chapters tomorrow.

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