Mushoku Impact

"Remember to always carry yourself with the dignity expected of a member of House Notos. Reputation, status, and honor are three of the most critical factors to being a Noble. Others will seek to borrow yours in the hope of increasing their own. Never lower your guard, no matter how friendly others may appear. The only true bonds among Nobles are forged through contracts and marriage. A person's word only has value if they-"
"Dear...if you keep this up, Paul is going to be late for his departure..."
After interrupting her husband's monologue, Valentine gave Paul one last hug, whispering, "Try not to break too many hearts, okay?"
Smiling wryly in response to his mother's words, Paul said, "You need not concern yourselves with such matters, Mother. While I do intend to marry in the future, I have no intention of pursuing intimate relationships during my time at the Academy."
Offering a wry smile of her own, Valentine caressed Paul's face, her tone as soft and gentle as beams of moonlight as she said, "My precious little star...I fear you underestimate the...enthusiasm of Noble ladies..."
Though he might have agreed with his mother a few weeks prior, Paul's experiences during his debut had taught him a lot about what he could expect from members of the fairer sex. They wouldn't force the matter due to his status as the First Son of House Notos, but there were bound to be countless young Nobles eyeing him with lascivious gazes over the next five years. It didn't help that he was also quite handsome, a solid ten in the eyes of most.
"Enough. Cease your coddling, woman. He'll need to make mistakes if he is to learn how to address them."
Hearing her husband's remark, Valentine exhaled a faint sigh through her nose before rising to her feet and replying, "You're right, of course. Please forgive me, Darling. I simply can't help worrying..."
"Mmm..."
Nodding his head, Amarant allowed Valentine's words to linger as he set his leafy-green gaze on his son and said, "Go, my son. Show those other Nobles the prestige of the House Notos. I expect great things from you."
Placing his hand over his heart, Paul offered a proper bow as he replied, "Yes, Father. Leave it to me."
Catching Paul by surprise, Amarant suddenly pulled him into a hug, his usually stern tone softening as he whispered, "If anything happens, send a letter with our family crest upside down. I've informed the servants to bring such messages directly to me. You don't have to worry about your Mother hearing about your exploits during your studies..."
Smiling wryly, Paul returned his father's embrace before the latter, just as quickly, broke it. The relationship between a father and son, at least as far as the Asura Aristocracy was concerned, was a relationship of respect. It was the duty of the women to coddle and fret over their children. Amarant just didn't want to see his son off with something as inane as a handshake or simple genuflection.
Seeing the awkwardness in his father's usually gruff countenance, Paul's practiced smile relaxed into a far more genuine expression. He and his father weren't particularly close, but they had a certain sense of mutual respect between them. Paul understood well how truly fortunate he was to be a member of House Notos, so, in response to his father's words and actions, he vowed, "Worry not, Father. Even if something happens, I will do everything in my power to ensure it does not tarnish the reputation of the House."
"Mmm...very good. Now, off you go. It's a day's journey to the Academy, and it would not do to dawdle."
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul resisted his conditioned urge to bow and instead replied, "Farewell, Father, Mother. I will make you proud."
Returning smiles of their own, Valentine whispered, "You already have." while his father, Amarant, simply nodded...
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With the Milbots Academy for Nobles being located nearly 130km to the West of the Notos Estate, reaching it via horse-drawn stagecoach took an average of three and a half days. In the process, Paul had to pass through seven different towns, each functioning as lesser brewery towns.
Though the Milbots Region bordered the Red Dragon Mountain Range, a chain of mountains spanning more than 3000km in length, it was one of the safest regions in the Central Continent. The Kingdom sent its Knights regularly through the region to deter bandits and clear away monsters, so Paul's journey went unobstructed. The large group of soldiers and skilled Adventurers escorting him made sure of that.
In total, Paul's escort took just under five days to reach Milbots Academy. Larger convoys generally moved slow, but thanks to Paul not caring about exploring the towns they crossed through, they reached their destination two days ahead of schedule. The trip was initially planned to take around seven days but ended up concluding the evening of the fifth.
Unlike other Noble children who had spent the first five years of their life practically trapped within their Estate, Paul didn't care much for the world outside. At the very least, not yet. He would have plenty of time to explore during his time as an Adventurer, so, as novel as the idea of checking out a medieval brewery was, Paul had already gotten his fill exploring the six around the Estate...
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As his carriage passed through the massive stone walls surrounding the city-sized Academy, a yawn escaped Paul's mouth despite his growing excitement. At several points in his previous life, he imagined himself as a Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry student. Milbots Academy lacked the same gravitas as the Medival Gothic Castle popularized in the Harry Potter series. However, it was still a place where Magic, or, more accurately, Mana pulsed through the very foundations.
Though Paul intended to focus on his swordsmanship and mastering his Vision, he was determined to learn Magic. Even if he simply learned the basics of Healing and Detoxification, he could qualitatively improve his Mana Reserves. He might not reach the monstrous level of Rudeus, but even a minor increase in his aggregate Mana Reserves would drastically increase his capabilities as a Swordsman.
Feeling the carriage slowing after an additional twenty minutes, Paul fixed his appearance and waited for one of his attendants to open the door and inform him of their arrival. When they did, the three remaining carriages of the seventeen-stage convoy had stopped outside of an extravagant, five-story residential building.&nbsp;
"We have arrived, Master Paul. Please, watch your step."
Nodding his head, Paul carefully dismounted the carriage before looking around the lavishly decorated property and asking, "Is this where I'll be staying?"
Lowering his head as a sign of respect, the middle-aged Butler answered, "That is correct, Master Paul. This is the dormitory reserved for members of the Upper Nobility, colloquially known as the Dragon's Den. As the First Son of House Notos, you have been allotted one of the penthouses on the uppermost floor."
Though he couldn't help feeling his treatment was a little excessive, Paul replied, "I understand. Please show me the way."
Believing Paul was in a hurry to rest, the Butler barked a few orders at the servants unloading the luggage before escorting Paul to his room on the fifth floor. There was a Dwarven-constructed mechanical elevator near the back of the lobby reserved for residents of the fifth floor, so it was a relatively straightforward journey.
Before entering his personal penthouse, Paul's curiosity compelled him to eye the rather ornate set of double doors leading to the much large suite occupying nearly 70% of the fifth floor. A golden emblem with two gem-embossed unicorns flanking a holy sword surrounded by ivy and set with a kingly crown was embossed into the surface, clearly denoting the room as property of the Royal Family.
Since it was better to know than be surprised later, Paul remarked, "I was not aware that the Milbots Academy played host to members of the Royal Family..."
Alleviating Paul's concerns, the Butler dutifully explained, "To my meager knowledge, it hasn't been used in the last eighty-three years. It is simply better to have a residence prepared than to not."
Understanding what the Butler was trying to say, Paul adopted a knowing smile before making his way into his room. It was much smaller than what he presumed the Royal Penthouse to be, but it could still give some of the most expensive suites from his previous world a run for their money.
With a living room large enough to accommodate sword training, a dining table that could seat twelve people, a fully stocked kitchen, seven guest rooms, a servant's quarters, an open terrace, and a master bedroom, Paul felt the penthouse was more or a mansion than a dormitory.
"So this is where I'll be spending the next five years..."
Thinking Paul might be disappointed with his accommodations, the Butler proposed, "If it pleases the Young Master, we can send an official request to the Royal Family. House Notos has dutifully served the Royal House of Anemoi for the past seven thousand years. With the First Prince attending the Royal Academy, I do not see them refusing such a request."
While he was a little curious about the interior and layout of the Royal Penthouse, Paul didn't hesitate to shake his head, stating, "No, this will more than suffice. If not for my status as the First Son of House Notos, I would have preferred to live amongst my peers. Since I do not intend to employ many servants or attendants, this is plenty."
With a visibly strained expression on his face, the Butler couldn't help asking, "Are you sure about your decision to live alone, Young Master? I understand your desire to exhibit your independence, but I must advise you to reconsider. Even the Lesser Noble Families send their children to school with an attendant and two bodyguards. Forgoing both...pardon my words, Master Paul, but it doesn't seem particularly wise."
Though he understood where the Butler was coming from, Paul wouldn't be able to release Zhongli or make use of the Intersection of Fate if there were a team of Maids and Butlers observing his every move and reporting to his father. Fortunately, in the days leading up to his departure, Paul was able to convince his father to increase his monthly allowance to 10 Asura Gold Coins. He just had to convince the man that he needed to learn how to read and rear subordinates of his own rather than relying on personnel assigned to him.
Since Milbots Academy considered every aspect of life as a Noble, there was an entire township full of people who received a stipend just to allow young, often bratty Nobles to push them around. More importantly, there was an Auction House and a small yet active Slave Market where students could scout for potential servants or, more often than not, sex slaves.
Though he intended to discuss it with Zhongli first, Paul intended to pass her off as a Slave or someone he had saved during an excursion. Neither option was ideal, but they were the only ways he could think of to explain her presence. It wasn't like he could just tell people she was the God of Geo, a deity from a completely different world than their own...
"Thank you for your concern, Silas. However, I have already discussed this matter with my Father and received his permission. Do not attempt to change my mind."
Understanding he had overstepped his bounds, Silas bowed nearly ninety degrees, responding, "My sincerest apologies, Master Paul. It was not my intention to question you or your esteemed Father."
Gesturing for Silas to rise, Paul stated, "You are forgiven." before promptly dismissing the man so he could help with the luggage...

Once his luggage had been moved up, Paul surprised the servants with a tip before promptly refusing their offer to help him arrange his things. He could always sort through them at his leisure later, and there were some things he simply didn't wish for them to see.&nbsp;
"Peace at last..."
With everyone departing on his orders, Paul was left alone in his massive penthouse. Fortunately, it was presently around 11:38 PM, a perfect time to open and make use of the Intersection of Fate.
Waiting for the ornate grandfather clock adorning his living room to chime midnight, Paul sauntered over to one of the guest rooms before placing his palms against the surface of its door. He had familiarized himself with the process of entering the Intersection of Fate the evening after his first visit, so he was unsurprised as an intricate pattern of runes spread across the door before it promptly folded inward like a collapsing stone bridge.
"We meet again, Master Paul."
Though it had been seconds since Paul's last departure, at least from her perspective, Zhongli offered a polite curtsy and a simple greeting.&nbsp;
Forcing a smile, Paul approached the center of the platform before saying, "I just finished moving into my penthouse suite at the Milbots Academy of Nobles. We'll need to come up with a cover story, but it should be safe for you to venture outside henceforth."
With one arm crossed over her chest, Zhongli raised her index finger and thumb to her chin, a thoughtful expression on her face as she hummed, "I see..."
Just as Paul was about to ask what she was thinking, Zhongli met his gaze and explained, "My apologies. I was accessing the information given by the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles. Just as you could view our world as if it were a work of fiction, the Gods governing the boundaries are able to view others in a similar light. Though my knowledge is incomplete, I am familiar with the structure of this world and its diverse cultures."
Noticing the confusion in Paul's emerald-green eyes, Zhongli's expression turned wry as she clarified, "I understand what you must do to explain my existence to others. Though I would rather not wear a collar, I will do so if I must. As for my identity, I would have preferred to assume the status of a Greater Elemental Spirit, but you are unable to use Magic. Thus, I will-"
"That's it...!"
Interrupting Zhongli before she could finish, Paul pulled out his Vision, a somewhat silly smile on his face as he said, "I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner. If I tell people you're a Greater Spirit attached to the Vision, I can explain your existence and justify its presence at the same time!"
Though Paul expected her to be pleasantly surprised, Zhongli simply nodded her head, her expression unchanging as she said, "I see. If that's what you've decided, then we'll consider the matter settled. Now, before we depart, there is something I neglected to tell you."
Reaching into the satchel-like purse strapped across her body, Zhongli pulled out a handful of pink, purple, and blue objects roughly the same size as an Asura Gold Coin. When Paul saw them, his eyes lit up like a man that had just discovered an oasis in the middle of a desert.
"You are undoubtedly already aware of this, but these are Intertwined Fates. As an incentive to make use of the Intersection of Fate, your first ten pulls have been provided as a courtesy. Whether or not you use them, however, is up to you."
Accepting the Intertwined Fates from Zhongli's hand, Paul held one up to inspect it. He wasn't sure why, but he had always thought that Fates were spheres. Instead, they resembled a ring with a nine-pointed star nestled and bound between two six-pointed leaves. They were beautiful but a lot simpler than he expected.
As if she could read his mind, Zhongli promptly grabbed one of the Fates from Paul's hand before pressing the two nibs at the center of the leaves. In a manner remarkably similar to a Pokeball, the Fate expanded in size to form a sphere.
"It would be inconvenient if you had to carry around a bunch of fist-sized spheres. My bag functions similarly to a pocket dimension, but the interior is only 3x3m. You will need to upgrade my Constellation if you want me to be able to store more items."
Though he was a little surprised to learn that Zhongli's bag was a storage device, Paul's biggest concern was the Gacha. He had initially intended to wait until his graduation before he started pulling, but there was a case to make for summoning sooner. He had more than enough space in his dorm, and it could benefit all of them if they had a few years to get to know one another...
Feeling like a Devil was whispering in his ear, Paul's expression became awkward as he asked, "Can you...can you tell me who is available in the current pool...?"
Nodding her head, Zhongli answered, "Since their status and titles would take some time, I will simply supply their names. In no particular order, they are Ganyu, Keqing, Mona, Diluc, Jean, Noelle, Xiangling, Chongyun, Fischl, Beidou, Barbara, Xingqui, Xinyan, Diona, Bennet, Ningguang, Qiqi, Sucrose, and Razor. As for weapons-"
Not caring about weapons, at least not at the present moment, Paul said, "That's enough. We'll worry about outfitting everyone once we set out and join the Adventurer's Guild. For now, let's hope for a strong ally..."
Having already made up his mind, Paul placed the ten Intertwined Fates into the hemispherical indents encircling the center of the platform. The notion that he was about to summon someone from another world made him jittery, but that was par for the course when it came to Gacha.
Once all the Fates were in place, Paul whispered, "Please give me Ganyu, Jean, or Ningguang..." before looking towards Zhongli and asking, "Now what?"
Pointing towards a set of handprints near the six-o-clock position of the formation, Zhongli explained, "Place your hands in those indentations and exclaim, 'confirm' in a loud and authoritative tone. Once you've done that, the Fates will disappear, and the summoning will begin."
Following Zhongli's instructions, Paul positioned himself near the prints, but instead of placing his hands inside, he rubbed his palms together and said, "RNGesus, please bless me this day..."
With his 'ritual' complete, Paul bent down and placed his comparably small hands into the adult-sized imprints and shouted, "Confirm...!" with as much conviction as he could muster. In response, the ten Intertwined Fates flashed with a rainbow hue, completely disappearing as a brilliant blue meteor began barreling towards the platform.
"Come on, come on, come on..."
Crossing the fingers of both of his hands, Paul continued to chant 'come on' while simultaneously chanting 'Ningguang' over and over in his mind. The latter was a character that had been able to go from a pauper to the wealthiest person in her world in just under fifteen years, so she would be a tremendous asset to have if his fate was tied to Gacha.
Seeing the meteor split into ten comets, Paul's heart sank as he noticed only a single purple hue among them. There was still a chance he would get Ningguang, but existence, especially when it concerned Gacha, was often cruel.&nbsp;
From within the comets that struck the platform, nine clattered to the ground in the form of weapons while the one at the center manifested into the shape of a young girl with amber eyes and short, dark-blue hair fashioned into a pair of ring-shaped ponytails.
"Xiangling..."
Hearing her name, Xiangling bounced to her feet with a happy smile on her face, exclaiming, "Yahoo~! Xiangling has arrived~!" in an excited and friendly manner.
Feeling a smidgeon of guilt, Paul suppressed his earlier lamentations as he internally advised, ("She isn't just a character from a video game. Don't go deciding a person's value based on their rarity. Even Ningguang is only a 4-Star, and she was the leader of a nation...")
Recovering his smile, Paul placed his hand over his heart, bowing as he said, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Xiangling. I look forward to working with you for the benefit of both our worlds..."
Possessing much of the same knowledge as Zhongli, Xiangling returned a proper curtsy, the hem of her Maid-like dress raised as she bent her body forward and happily replied, "The pleasure is all mine! I might not be the best fighter without a Vision, but I'm confident in my skills as a chef. Just leave all the cooking to me~!"
Blinking in surprise, Paul briefly scanned Xiangling's child-like frame as he asked, "You don't have a Vision?"
To Paul's considerable relief, Xiangling promptly produced a Vision from a tiny pocket in her apron. The only problem was that it was currently inert, completely lacking the luster of a Pyro Vision.
"Unless you summon the Pyro Archon, Lady Murata, Pyro Visions have no power source. I'm pretty handy with a spear, but I doubt I would be able to fight against anyone truly powerful in my current form. Give me ten to fifteen years, and I should be back to my full strength."
Flexing her tiny arms, Xiangling maintained one of the most infectious smiles Paul had ever seen. It made him feel even guiltier about his earlier disappointment, so, after a moment of silence, he adopted a sincere smile and said, "I equally anticipate your growth as both a warrior and a chef..."
Adopting a toothy grin that seemed to illuminate the entire world around her, Xiangling excitedly replied, "Yosh~! Let's all get stronger together~!" before promptly falling onto her bottom as she attempted to perform a pirouette.
"..." x2
Seeing Paul and Zhongli staring at her with blank expressions on their faces, Xiangling's cheeks began to heat up. Instead of fumbling about or acting embarrassed, however, she just knocked herself on the head, stuck her tongue out, and winked as she offered a cutesy, "Tehe~."
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While Xiangling was familiarizing herself with the kitchen and preparing a meal using a stepping stool, Paul learned about the unique characteristics of weapons summoned through the Intersection of Fate.
Though he hadn't gotten any 4 or 5-Star weapons, that didn't mean the items Paul had obtained were terrible. In fact, except for a few treasured swords made from the bones of a Dragon King, they would outclass even the armaments given to members of the Royal Guard. If he were allowed to sell them, even the unupgraded versions of the weapons would sell for tens, if not hundreds, of Asura Gold Coins.
Unfortunately, the weapons acquired from the Gacha could only be used with a Vision. In the hands of someone without, they were basically little more than fancy-looking sticks. They would even dissipate into motes of energy if they were kept out too long, forcing Paul to keep them 'stored' inside Zhongli's bag to be used as upgrade materials later on.
Fortunately, the same trait that prevented Paul from selling the weapons also made them convenient to use. Visions could attune with weapons and synchronize with upwards of five different artifacts. The process of attunement not only allowed Paul to link his sword to his Vision, greatly increasing its power, but it also allowed him to store it inside and take it out whenever he wanted. In other words, while others had to draw their weapons and keep them in sheaths, he could summon his to his hand in an instant.
Among the two swords that Paul had drawn, the one he selected was the Harbinger of Dawn. He liked how it resembled a holy sword, but the most crucial factor behind his decision was that he had drawn two. Weapons of the same name could be refined together to improve their unique abilities. In the case of the Harbinger of Dawn, it would go from a 14% Critical Rate to a 17.5% chance. As for how Critical Rate manifested in the real world, it gave him a chance to simply ignore a target's armor whenever he landed a blow. Then, depending on how high his Critical Damage was, the attack would basically 'explode' upon contact, creating a shockwave that could disorient or potentially even kill an opponent if he managed to stab into them.
Put simply, while the weapons Paul had pulled were nothing compared to their 4 and 5-Star counterparts, they were unfathomably powerful in the context of Mushoku Tensei. So much so that Paul felt like a complete idiot for believing them to be useless...

"Firstly, I believe an explanation of this place is in order. Wouldn't you agree?"
With Paul nodding his head in affirmation, Zhongli went on to explain, "This place is known as the Intersection of Fate. As you no doubt have guessed, its form and structure are made to resemble the Wish System from your previous world. By sacrificing Intertwined and Acquaint Fates, you possess the ability to summon entities from my world into yours."
Pointing towards the ten holes engraved in the rather intricate pattern beneath her feet, Zhongli continued, explaining, "Once you obtain a Fate, you can insert them into these holes. As for what comes out, well, that is also up to Fate. All I know for sure is that the probability of summoning a powerful ally or item increases if you submit ten identical Fates."
Though he had anticipated it, Paul couldn't help adopting a deadpan expression when he heard Zhongli's words, asking, "The fates of our worlds are on the line, and the solution your Gods came up with was a Gacha System?"
Nodding her head in affirmation, Zhongli crossed her arms and calmly replied, "It's the Law of Equivalence. Everything has a price, even Fate itself. As for the actual value, I believe it was 10 Asura Gold Coins for an Intertwined Fate. If that is beyond your means, Acquaint Fates can be obtained by completing important Quests or fulfilling certain conditions. I would recommend joining your world's Adventurer's Guild if you intend to pursue that route."
Exhaling a sigh, Paul ran his fingers through his hair in a vain attempt to comfort himself. His allowance was only a single Asura Gold Coin every month. He could probably convince his father to give him more, but that was already the equivalent of a skilled Maid's salary. If it was given to a peasant family, averaging around five people, they could survive on it for an entire year.
Shaking his head, Paul brought his index finger and thumb to his chin as he muttered, "Summoning people and items out of thin air would be too suspicious. For now, I should focus on saving money..."
Raising his head, Paul met Zhongli's gaze, asking, "What are you planning to do? Judging by your outfit, I would assume you intend to be employed as my Maid...?"
Though she nodded her head in affirmation, Zhongli clarified, "That is the guise I intend to assume. However, my actual purpose is to keep you safe and act as something of an Advisor. My powers are currently limited, but I am still one of the Seven Archons."
As if to demonstrate her power, Zhongli held out her right hand, palm up as a mass of brown and luminescent gold energy began to condense into the form of a yellow, diamond-shaped crystal resembling amber.
After a moment of stunned silence, Paul, wide-eyed, asked, "Is that what I think it is...?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Zhongli answered, "I cannot presume to know what you're thinking. However, if it's regarding whether or not this is a Geo Vision, the answer is yes."
Pushing her hand forward Paul, Zhongli sent the luminous piece of crystal floating toward him, adding, "Whenever you first summon an Archon, you will receive their corresponding Vision. Whether you use them or gift them to your allies is ultimately up to you. Just know that my power is far from absolute, especially in my current form. If a time comes when I am unable to protect you, please do not hesitate to make use of it. Your death would effectively spell the end of both of our worlds..."
Feeling a shiver run through his body, Paul snatched the Geo Vision out of the air and held it to his chest. It was a lot warmer than he expected, and the moment it entered his grasp, an earthy aroma filled his nose. Then, as if responding to his will, a shimmering, glass-like golden shield covered in runes appeared around him.
Nodding her head in approval, Zhongli explained, "Geo is the Element of Protection, Resonance, and Creation. It is incompatible with Anemo and Dendro, but protects against all elements. The form and function of your Geo abilities will depend on your innermost desires and ambitions. In my prime, I could create spears the size of mountains, so I'm looking forward to seeing how far you're able to develop your abilities, Champion."
Furrowing his brows, Paul lowered his hands and said, "You don't need to call me that. I don't want to be like the Traveler back in the game. I have a name, and it's Paul. Paul Notos Greyrat."
Causing Paul even greater discomfort, Zhongli pulled up the sides of her dress, performing a proper curtsy as she said, "I will be sure to take that into consideration, Master Paul."
Despite his brow twitching, Paul didn't bother to correct Zhongli's form of address. It would cause problems for both of them if she simply referred to him by name. He already had a headache thinking about how he would explain her existence to his parents, so, for the time being, he settled on asking, "Will everyone I summon through Intersection of Fate be like you? A child, I mean."
Shaking her head, Zhongli explained, "It depends on your circumstances. Had you been independent of your family, I may have been summoned in my adult form. In other words, I was given this form to better protect and accompany you. I imagine anyone else you summon over the next five to ten years will have to tolerate similar conditions."
"Right..."
Though he briefly imagined child-like versions of Ningguang and Ganyu, Paul didn't intend to summon anyone else for the time being. Back in his original world, the chances of summoning a 5-Star Character or Weapon were around 1%. If that applied to the Intersection of Fate, trying to pull for a specific person was like throwing a rock into the winds of a tornado and expecting to hit the bullseye painted on a particular tree.
Gathering his thoughts, Paul asked, "Can you tell me which char&mdash;I mean, which people will appear in the summoning pool? If there's something like banners, I might cry."
Adopting a wry smile that filled Paul with dread, Zhongli explained, "The Intersection of Fate is currently in the process of repairing itself. You no doubt noticed that Luciana, the Sustainer of Heavenly Principles, was on the verge of degenerating. It is her power that sustains this place, so, as reluctant as I am to inform you, the pool is limited to a handful of people at a time..."
Though he didn't cry, Paul had to crouch down and cover his face for a few minutes. Gacha had literally claimed his previous life, so the notion of his new live revolving around it weighed heavily on his soul. Sure, he was more than a little excited about the idea of teaming up with certain people from the game he had grown to love, but he would need to invest a literal fortune just for a chance to meet them...
Remembering that he had been born with a diamond spoon in his mouth, Paul gradually collected himself before rising to his feet and saying, "My apologies...I momentarily forgot myself..."
Empathizing with Paul's plight, a faint smile developed across Zhongli's face as she stated, "You need not apologize. You've been presented with a set of circumstances that would overwhelm anyone. In my opinion, you have reacted spectacularly thus far."
Feeling the sincerity in Zhongli's praise, a rare commodity in his past and present lives, Paul felt a mixture of awkwardness and gratification. There was a certain 'surety' to her words, like there was no doubt that what she was saying was the truth.
Despite his training conditioning him not to, Paul offered a soft, "Thanks..." as he scratched the back of his head. In response, Zhongli offered a curt yet approving nod, stating, "You're very welcome." before adding, "Now, I believe it's long past your time for bed. There is also a limit to the amount of time you can stay in this place, so you should return posthaste."
Raising his brows, Paul paused for a moment before asking, "Are you not coming with me?" in an audibly confused tone.&nbsp;
Adopting an ostensibly amused smile, Zhongli asked, "And how, pray tell, would you explain my existence to your parents? No. For the time being, I will patiently remain here. Once you are in a situation where my presence will not inconvenience you, feel free to return. Time does not exist within this place when you're not present, so you need not concern yourself with my well-being. From my perspective, you will only be gone a moment."
Blinking in surprise, Paul was about to ask if he could store things within, but Zhongli preempted him, explaining, "Once you reach Adventure Rank 35, you will be able to acquire a Serenitea Pot. Xiao Ping, along with many of the other Adepti, are among those you can summon."
Though he had never completed the Serenitea Pot Quest due to his short playtime and limited Adventure Rank, Paul was familiar with the portable dwelling. It was effectively a pocket dimension that allowed the owner to alter its structure and layout at their leisure. The basic Serenitea Pot even included a small mansion to house and accumulate friend experience with your characters.&nbsp;
Regaining some of his earlier excitement, a smile developed across Paul's face as he replied, "Something to look forward to in the future, I suppose. My only question is, how do I increase my Adventure Rank?"
Raising her brows ever so slightly, Zhongli seemed genuinely taken aback as she replied, "I would have thought it was obvious..."
Shaking her head, Zhongli fixed her expression before dutifully explaining, "Once you have registered with your world's Adventurer's Guild, you will be able to acquire experience by completing Quests, defeating monsters, and exploring Dungeons. You can also accumulate it by defeating Mages and Swordsmen of a certain Rank, but I would advise against it until you have increased your own. Even I cannot protect you if you antagonize a Saint-Rank Swordsman at my current level."
Tensing in response to the word 'level', the color drained from Paul's face as he said, "Please don't tell me you and the others I summon will need to level up, ascend, and unlock constellations..."
Since he asked her not to tell him, Zhongli remained silent in response to Paul's remark. He understood the reason for her silence and, as a result, returned to his crouching position, this time crying for real...
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Waking after less than three hours of sleep, Paul reached under his pillow to pull out the glimmering crystal hidden beneath. Its existence confirmed the previous night hadn't been a dream, so, after a moment of silence, he rose to a seated position and muttered, "Don't panic, Paul. At least for the time being, nothing has changed. You just have more...options available to you..."
After convincing himself that everything was going to be okay, Paul spent a few minutes trying to find something to fasten his newly acquired Vision to. According to Zhongli, it needed to be visible to others in order to make use of its power, so hiding it within his clothes wasn't really an option.
While he had no intention of using it just yet, having the option was better than not. Thus, even though it was rather crude, Paul pulled out the face of a pocket watch his father had given him before securing the Vision in place using a combination of metal twine and wax sealant. After that, he performed his morning routine of stretching, wiping himself down using a lightly perfumed towel, and getting dressed. The mansion had a bath, but it was in a detached building behind the property.&nbsp;
Despite existing for more than seven thousand years, the Asura Kingdom had never developed complex piping and plumbing. The only people who could afford baths were Nobles and Mages proficient with Water and Fire Magic. Thus, unless he started to feel particularly grimy, Paul would only take proper baths when his father and mother forced him to join. Skinship was very important to Asura Nobles, so much so that it wasn't uncommon for close friends and family to partake of the same sauna or bath. In fact, one of the classes Paul would be taking at school literally revolved around teaching people how to behave and interact with others in the bath...

Chapter 6: MI06: Setting Out