Mushoku Impact

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...

Due to staying up much later than usual, it was nearly noon when Zhongli knocked on Paul's door, informing, "Master Paul, a messenger claiming to represent the Academy's Headmaster, has arrived. Shall I see them off, or would you prefer to speak with them?"
Rising to a seated position, Paul issued a long yawn before dropping his feet out of his bed and answering, "I'll be out in a moment. Allow them entry into the foyer, but do not serve them tea."
Playing her part perfectly, Zhongli offered a courteous bow, saying, "As you will, Master Paul." before departing to carry out his orders. Thousands of years of living had dulled her sensibilities quite a bit. While others were bound to feel discomfort being summoned as a female, Zhongli found it to be a rather novel experience.
Emerging from his room a few minutes later, Paul was surprised to find that the messenger was a young woman with dark blue hair and pointed ears. While the Asura Kingdom didn't outlaw them, it wasn't exactly the most hospitable country for non-human races. Unless they were a skilled Mage or Swordsmen, most non-humans within established human nations were slaves or former slaves.
Recognizing Paul from the description she had been given, the completely flat-chested woman offered a courteous bow, stating, "Greetings, Master Paul Notos Greyrat. My name is Erinellis of Fen. It is a privilege to behold your esteemed countenance."
Gesturing for Erinellis to raise her head, Paul inquired, "To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit, Miss Erinellis?"
Since most young Nobles would ask about her ears or directly order her to strip down, Erinellis's impression of Paul immediately improved. There were few Noblemen and women his age who didn't let their curiosity and burgeoning perversion dictate their behavior in private.
"My Esteemed Master, the Water Saint Magician Rumina Viktor Greenbull, Headmaster of Milbots Academy of Nobles, wishes to meet you. Though your enrollment has already been completed, she would like to give you a tour of the grounds and explain our facilities."
"I see. Tell your Master I am a bit weary from my travels. If she has time, I would prefer to meet her tomorrow morning. If that proves inconvenient, I do not mind exploring on my own or being escorted by a lesser member of the staff."
While he was full of energy, Paul intended to spend the day unpacking his things. There was also the fact that his meeting with the Headmaster was initially scheduled to take place in two days. He assumed the Headmaster was simply adjusting her schedule to accommodate his early arrival.
"Very well, Master Paul. I will inform my Lady of your decision. Enjoy your rest."
Since her Master had told her not to insist if Paul rejected her invitation, Erinellis promptly excused herself. As for Paul, he habitually asked Zhongli to prepare tea, momentarily forgetting she was just 'pretending' to be his Maid as he started to sort through the veritable mountain of luggage and containers occupying the center of his living room.
When Paul was preparing to set out from home, the only things he packed were his wardrobe a few of his more important books. As the heir of the Regional Lord, he could basically purchase anything he wanted by simply writing an IOU or submitting his receipts to the Headmaster. House Notos was the financial backer of the Milbots Academy of Nobles, so Paul was, unsurprisingly, given special treatment.
Unfortunately, despite his protests, Paul's father had insisted he bring along two entire crates of fine wines and alcohol. Not for consumption, but as gifts to 'lesser' Nobles. Every student attending the Academy was either a vassal family or an ally of House Notos. Paul was expected to be something of a rallying point for the other students of the Academy, just as his father was the principal authority within the region.
Though he intended to do his best, Paul wasn't looking forward to being the center of attention for hundreds of young Noble sons and daughters. If it were up to him, he would simply sell the wine to accrue funds for his Gacha. Ten of the bottles his father had given were the most expensive vintage his family produced. A single bottle could sell for upwards of 100 Asura Gold Coins, so Paul was reluctant to give them away. If he didn't have the responsibility of maintaining his family's face, Paul would have sold the entire lot.
"Here you are, Master Paul."
Hearing Zhongli's words and seeing her carrying a tray of tea, Paul's thought processes briefly ground to a halt. The notion that he had just ordered a God to serve tea briefly crossed his mind, but before he could even think of apologizing, Zhongli placed down the tray, filled a cup, and presented it to Paul with a faint smile, saying, "I hope it suits your taste."
"Right..."
Accepting the cup with a befuddled expression on his face, Paul hesitated for a moment before sampling its murky brown contents. If he were being honest, it was some of the worst tea he had ever had. He was pretty sure Zhongli had simply soaked the tea leaves in boiled water without straining them. Despite this, Paul downed the entire cup before forcing a smile and saying, "It was delicious..."
Though she noticed the straining of Paul's face, Zhongli nodded her head in approval before pouring a cup for herself. From an etiquette standpoint, this was a major faux pas. Servants weren't allowed to drink or dine in the presence of their Lords or Masters. Had Tabitha been present, she would have smacked Zhongli with a horsewhip. As for Paul, he just ignored it and did his best to focus on packing. If anyone tried to give Zhongli, Xiangling, or any of his future allies troubles, he would simply use his position as the First Son of House Notos to crush them.
Paul's most significant concern regarding his future 'servants' were his father and members of the Royal Family. The 'characters' from Genshin Impact were attractive by pretty much any world's standards. In other words, it was only a matter of time before someone in a position greater than Paul's took an interest in them. Depending on how things played out, their only options would be to run away or fight.
"Mmm..."
Breaking Paul from his reverie, Zhongli's peculiar, diamond-shaped pupils expanded and contracted a few times as she stared at the contents of her cup and remarked, "This is terrible..."
Though he felt tense just having Zhongli around him, Paul managed a light chuckle in response to her disgusted expression. At the same time, he felt sincerely grateful that Xiangling, a Master Chef, was among the first allies he summoned. If he had somehow managed to pull Ei or her puppet form, the Raiden Shogun, he would probably succumb to food poisoning...
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Unaware of Paul's thoughts, Xiangling was sitting silently scribbling in her room with a listless expression on her face. She had done her best to put on a happy front during her initial encounter with Paul, but the notion that it would take decades before she even had the opportunity to return and save her world weighed heavily on her mind.
Though she hadn't been aware of the world's destruction in the moments leading up to it, the spectacle of a massive wave of black light sweeping across and destroying everything was burned into Xiangling's mind. If not for her Vision activating and teleporting her away at the very last moment, she would have been destroyed alongside her family, friends, and the only home she had ever known.
Having run out of parchment paper, Xiangling scratched an image of her best friend, Guoba, directly into the wooden surface of her desk. He had grown to a giant size in the closing moments of Liyue's destruction, a last and ultimately vain attempt to protect the city and its people before it was completely erased from the surface of their charred world.
"Guoba..."
Wiping away her tears with her forearm, Xiangling was about to start scribbling an image of her father when a soft rattling startled her out of her seat.
"D-Don't open the door! I...I'm not decent...!"
In an effort to substantiate her lie, Xiangling began pulling at the fabric of her clothes. Before she could so much as remove her apron, however, the deep yet feminine voice of Zhongli came through the door, declaring, "It's me."
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Xiangling took a moment to wipe away the tears and snot from her face before making her way over to the door and letting Zhongli enter. She had gotten to know all of her future companions during her stay in the Intersection of Fate. She had even voted for Zhongli when their group was deciding representatives, so Xiangling had a lot of trust in the former God of her city.
Seeing the slight bruising around Xiangling's eyes, Zhongli's expression softened as she asked, "Were you able to get any sleep at all?"
Shaking her head, Xiangling sniffled before sitting down on the edge of her bed and answering, "It just doesn't feel real. Though I knew what I was getting myself into when I signed the contract, the thought of not being able to see my family and friends for an entire lifetime makes me want to cry..."
Understanding the pain of loss better than most, Zhongli sat next to Xiangling, silence dominating the room for several seconds before she said, "Paul is far more considerate than I'm sure either of us anticipated. If things get particularly tough, you can always ask him to let you stay in the Intersection of Fate. That way, it will only be a short while before you are reunited with your family."
Wiping away a few newly formed tears, Xiangling adopted an aggrieved yet resolute expression as she said, "No. Even if my actions only speed things up by a few seconds, I am willing to do what I must to ensure the restoration and survival of our world. I won't just sit on the sidelines and watch others fight to protect the things precious to me."
Nodding her head in approval, Zhongli surprised Xiangling by pulling her into a hug and whispering, "Well said...it is that sort of conviction that will guarantee the success of our mission. Still, if things get tough, do not be afraid to shed tears. Hiding away and languishing in isolation only serves to nourish negative feelings. It's okay to grieve."
Feeling a fresh wave of tears building in her eyes, Xiangling threw herself into Zhongli and hugged her tight enough to elicit a soft grunt. Instead of letting go, however, she buried her face into the latter's nonexistent chest and proceeded to cry her heart out.
Ignoring her own discomfort, Zhongli held Xiangling in a firm yet gentle embrace, tenderly caressing the young girl's hair as she whispered, "It's going to be okay..." in a soothing tone...
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Emerging from his room shortly after 4 PM, Paul briefly paused to look around the living room before making his way to the kitchen. He could have called for Zhongli or Xiangling, but he didn't want to treat them as legitimate servants. It was one thing to play a part in public; Within the relative privacy of their shared home, he wanted them to regard each other as equals.
Fortunately, just as Paul was preparing to boil some dried meat to make soup stock, Zhongli and Xiangling immediately emerged from the same room. Paul didn't see this, but he could hear them approaching thanks to their hard-soled shoes and the wooden floor.
Exhibiting none of the vulnerability she had shown to Zhongli, Xiangling's face lit up when she saw Paul preparing ingredients, asking, "Do you know how to cook?" in an excited tone.
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul explained, "My mother, back in my previous life, died when I was eight. I also lived alone for a few years, so I needed to learn how to cook for myself. I might not be a master chef, but I have a couple of dishes I can be proud of."
While listening to Paul's words, Xiangling made her way over to view his preparation first hand. He was lacking in dexterity, but it was clear he had the basics down. At the very least, he knew how to wash vegetables and avoid using the same utensils to process multiple ingredients.
Seeing a hint of potential in Paul's actions, Xiangling adopted a sincere smile as she asked, "Would you like me to teach you~?"
Since he would feel guilty if Xiangling was the only person preparing their meals, Paul returned a smile of his own as he replied, "It would be a great honor to learn from Liyue's greatest chef."
Adopting an even brighter smile, Xiangling pulled up a footstool to stand next to Paul before grabbing a knife and demonstrating the proper cutting technique. As for Zhongli, she just silently observed the two with a smile until Xiangling suddenly looked over and asked, "Aren't you going to join us?"
After a brief pause, the smile on Zhongli's face became marginally more prominent as she replied, "Of course. I simply didn't want to get in your way. If there's room, I would be more than happy to join."
On that note, Zhongli searched for a stool of her own before eventually settling on a platform made of Geo Energy. This caught Paul and Xiangling by surprise, but after the initial shock wore off, the three worked together to prepare a rather sumptuous dinner...

"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...

Chapter 7: MI07: Irresistible Temptation