Mushoku Impact

Though the primary purpose of the Milbolts Academy for Nobles was to emulate and familiarize Noble sons and daughters with the society they would invariably be a part of, there were a number of classes that focused on things like history, territorial management, math, and even chemistry.
Before his sudden and spontaneous access to the Intersection of Fate, Paul had only intended to study territorial management, swordsmanship, and magic. Now that he had Zhongli and Xiangling with him, his schedule was packed with history, etiquette, ballroom dancing, and foreign studies.
While Zhongli and Xiangling had been provided basic information about the world, it was spotty at best. It also relied on their actual memory to retain it, so Xianling, in particular, had already forgotten most of the stuff she had learned. Zhongli was in a better position due to her extraordinary memory, but she still needed to experience things to be genuinely familiar with them. Thus, while they were only required to attend three classes in any given week, Paul, Zhongli, and Xiangling mutually attended eight.
During the start of their studies, primarily due to his announcement, Paul was regarded as an overachiever and a pariah. A lot of the classes he had enrolled in were meant for children in higher age groups and, in the cases of ballroom dancing and etiquette, female Nobles. The only boys enrolled in the latter classes were there to flirt with girls, so his reputation took a nosedive until rumors regarding his, Zhongli's, and Xiangling's academic performances quickly spread throughout the school.
Since there were adult members of the Nobility that didn't even know how to read, Paul's, Zhongli's, and Xiangling's relative fluency at the age of five was viewed as a sign of prodigiousness. Zhongli, in particular, managed to attain the highest marks in every single one of her classes, while Paul was able to achieve second-highest marks in everything but ballroom dancing, swordsmanship, and magic. In those three classes, Zhongli and Xiangling outperformed even the students that were preparing to graduate...
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"Heir Notos, we would like to have a word with you. Please come with us."
Staring up at the group of older, roughly eight-year-old children led by a boy with blond hair slicked back and fastened into a fashionable ponytail, Paul replied, "You interrupt my meal and entreaty me without even giving your names? Away with you."
Though his two cronies looked like they wanted to step forward and seize Paul by his sleeves or collar, the blond maintained a practiced smile as he placed his hand over his heart, lowered his head, and said, "Please accept my deepest and most heartfelt apologies, Heir Notos. It would appear I have become too accustomed to others knowing my name. I am the First Son of House Havagat, Julius Havagat Silvertoad. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Recognizing the names Havagat and Silvertoad at Upper-Middle Noble Houses, Paul found himself suppressing a sigh as he rose to his feet and offered a less courteous bow and answered, "The pleasure is mine, Heir Havagat. Now, to what cause do I owe the 'pleasure' of your visit?"&nbsp;
Placing extra emphasis on the word pleasure in a vain attempt to get the youth to leave him alone, Paul's smile cramped when Julius answered, "I would like to purchase your attendants. I have already communicated the matter to my father and obtained permission from your own to pursue the purchase. We need only to work out and finalize the details."
Though both Zhongli and Xiangling were present, only the latter furrowed her brows in disgust. This prompted one of Julius's thug-like cronies to ask, "What are you looking at, wench?" but, even then, she did not speak. Due to her perceived status as nothing more than a servant, speaking out would simply exacerbate matters.
Fortunately, Paul had never been the type to tolerate slights and insults to the people he cared about or, at the very least, associated with. He and Xiangling weren't particularly close, but they were still allies for however long it took them to save both of their worlds.
"Enough. Not only is your proposition offensive to the point of appalling, but the manners of your colleagues are worse than a common barhound. This time, I will settle with filing an official complaint with House Havagat. The next time you insult my honor and approach me with such a ridiculous proposal, I will have no choice but defend it. Now, away with you."
Not expecting Paul to speak to him in such a manner, Julius flared up like an angsty cockerel as he nearly shouted, "Have you completely lost your senses? Even if you are from a Greater Noble House, you have no right to speak to me in such a manner. And over a common wench, no less!"
Without missing a beat, Paul's voice leveled into a threatening tone as he asked, "And who is it making a scene over such 'common wenches'? Your failure to find capable retainers does not give you a license to poach from others. Have some class. You're a Noble, not mongrel."
Inhaling a deep breath, Julius seemed like he was mere moments away from striking Paul. The difference in status between a Greater Noble and an Upper-Middle Noble, however, was like the distance between Heaven and Earth. If he struck first and without probable cause, a year or two of house arrest would be the least of his punishments.
"Paul Notos Greyrat. I will remember today's offense. Farewell."
Without waiting for Paul's response, Julius promptly turned and gestured for his cronies to follow as he practically stormed out of the garden where various students, predominately females, enjoyed their meals.
Hearing the distant sound of murmurs and noticing several groups of girls looking his way, a faint yet exasperated sigh emanated from Paul's throat as he sat down and accepted the cup of tea promptly proferred to him by Zhongli.
"Thanks..."
"Of course. You spoke out in our defense and compromised a potential partnership with an influential House. It's the least I can do."
Compelled by Zhongli's words, Xianling offered a bow that was closer to a kowtow than a Noblewoman's genuflection as she said, "Thank you, Paul! I don't know what I would do if I somehow ended up in the hands of this world's greedy and licentious Nobles..."
Before Paul could inform her that he would never allow such a thing to happen, Zhongli caught both him and Xiangling off guard by saying, "As macabre as this may sound, I would suggest suicide. Since you seem to have forgotten, let me remind you that we, meaning those of us conjured through the Intersection of Fate, will return there upon death."
Though Xiangling adopted an 'oh yeah' kind of expression, Paul was left sitting with his mouth agape. Zhongli, noticing this, appeared to pause for a brief moment before adopting a wry smile and saying, "It would appear I forgot to mention that. My apologies, Master Paul. I thought you would have known, given the relationship between the Intersection of Fate and the system you were familiar with in your previous life. So long as you, the Champion, remain, we can be resurrected as many times as necessary. It is because of this that we can willfully give our lives to preserve yours."
"..."
Not knowing what to say, Paul lowered his gaze to his half-emptied cup of tea. His situation hadn't changed, but he felt as though the burden on his shoulders had suddenly increased. It didn't help that he, like the two girls seated across from him, had absolutely no idea why he had been chosen.
Just as Paul was considering hiding away somewhere so that his death wouldn't lead to the destruction of two worlds, Xiangling placed a rather substantial serving of pheasant stew in front of him, saying, "Eat." with an uncharacteristically severe expression on her face.
"..."
Still at a loss for words, Paul remained silent as he dipped his silver spoon into the fragrant, almost curry-like stew. Then, under the watchful eyes of the two otherworldly girls, he took in several large spoonfuls before softly muttering, "It's delicious..."
Stealing a bit of Xiangling's thunder, Zhongli scooped up a spoonful of her own stew, softly blowing on it before proferring it toward Paul and saying, "This is not a responsibility you or any of us asked for. The burden placed on you is especially great. Thus, instead of focusing on us and a world far beyond your reach, you should first prioritize your personal wants, needs, and desires. We are here to support you, not the other way around..."
Though they weren't the exact words Paul wanted to hear, he still felt a little better after hearing Zhongli's words. Then again, with her strangely sonorous tone, she could probably insult people, and it would still come across as profound wisdom...
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To prevent a similar problem from arising in the future, Paul sent a letter to his father that included a copy of Zhongli's and Xiangling's academic evaluation. His father probably thought he had purchased some random Slaves, so he wouldn't have given the matter much consideration before giving the Havagat family permission to pursue a transaction. By showing how truly exceptionally Zhongli and Xiangling were, Paul hoped to nip any future problems in the bud.
Fortunately, Paul had already built a considerable amount of rapport with his father before leaving for school. Had he not, Amarant may have simply gifted Zhongli and Xiangling to the Havagat family as incentives in a trade agreement. Instead, he upheld his decision to allow Paul to pick, choose, and train his servants/retainers. This meant Paul had the exclusive right to trade them away and, in this instance, speak in their defense.
As an additional perk of the rapport Paul had built, Amarant immediately became skeptical when the Havagat family sent him a plethora of letters decrying his son's behavior. Instead of pursuing the matter and writing his son a rebuke, he waited patiently for Paul's private letter to arrive. When it did, complete with a rational account of events and ample evidence of the other party's wronging, he immediately arranged a meeting with the Lord of House Havagat to give the man a piece of his mind.
After enduring the fiercest rebuke he had ever received, bordering on an open declaration of enmity between House Notos and Havagat, the Lord of the latter House compelled his son's immediate return. Upon learning the truth of the matter, that his son merely coveted the beauty of Paul's servants, he beat Julius with such ferocity that the latter ended up being bedridden for two months.
In an effort to smooth things over between his House and House Notos, Lord Havagat offered his eldest daughter, an eight-year-old girl named Sasha, as one of Paul's future concubines. Under normal circumstances, Amarant would have readily agreed to such a proposal. However, knowing his son preferred to have a say in such matters, he ultimately rejected the man's offer. Instead, Amarant reached out to one of the more influential families serving his own, consequently arranging for Sasha to be wed to their seventeen-year-old Heir as his second wife. This was less than ideal from the perspective of House Havagat, but, fearful of what might happen if they refuse, Lord Havagat eventually agreed to the arrangement before subsequently beating his son a second time...
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Mostly unaware of the consequences his single letter had wrought, Paul's stay within the academy became relatively peaceful for the better part of two months. There were a growing number of girls volunteering to be his partner during dance lessons, but that was to be expected when he was the only boy who took the class seriously. Zhongli had initially suggested it as a means to improve his sense of balance and footwork, so, even if it was awkward dancing with girls nearly a full head taller than him, Paul did his best to remain focused. He was starting to doubt if he would ever beat Xiangling in a spar, but, at the very least, he was already strong enough to compete with boys three years his senior. His only lingering setback was his inability to cast even the most elementary of magical spells. He tried, and tried, and tried, but they just didn't work...

"Divine Power, become a source of nourishment. Give those who have lost it the strength to rise again. Healing...!"
Despite feeling as though his head was splitting open along the central axis, Paul did his best to remain focused as he repeated the Beginner Level Healing Spell for what felt like the thousandth time.
Seeing Paul fail once more, the old woman teaching the class adopted a kind yet weary smile as she said, "We cannot be blessed in everything we do, Master Paul. I'm afraid no amount of positive affirmation will allow you to cast Magic when you lack the requisite amount of Mana..."
Though he was usually very polite to his teachers, Paul grumbled, "Who decided that...?" as he envisioned a pale-green light emanating from the palm of his hands and healing the fetal pig lying on his dissection table.
Exhaling a sigh, the old, nearly white-haired teacher mumbled, "Even geniuses have it hard..." before shifting her pale-blue eyes to Zhongli and Xiangling, adding, "Well, some do..."
While other students struggled to mend even tiny cuts, Zhongli's Healing Magic was so potent that she caused the long-dead wood of her table to sprout small branches and leaves. She was still at the Beginner Rank, but her aptitude and mana reserves all but assured she would reach the Rank of a Saint, maybe even higher.
Shifting her gaze to Xiangling, the aging teacher couldn't help revealing a grandmotherly smile when she saw the latter helping others. Her Healing Magic had a red hue, but that wasn't uncommon for those with an affinity with certain types of Magic. Those with a natural talent for Healing would often emit pure white, sometimes even golden light during the restoration process. In Xiangling's case, the color red indicated an inordinate affinity with Fire Magic.
A stark contrast to his two exceptionally talented attendants, Paul's palms wouldn't glow even if every light in the room were extinguished. It wasn't like he was saying the chants wrong or committing any apparent blunders; he simply didn't have enough Mana to support the spells he was casting.
"At least he has capable subordinates..."
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Upon departing the Healing Magic Ward, Paul was moving even slower than the 84-year-old granny responsible for teaching them. Fortunately, even though he had tried to tell her it was unnecessary, Xiangling helped to support him until they reached the bench Paul typically rested on after any lesson pertaining to Magic.
"Thank you, Xiangling..."
With a faint smile on her face, Xiangling pulled out a leather thermos filled with cool water as she said, "Don't mention it. I'm just doing what I ought to do."
Accepting the thermos, Paul paused for a moment to stare at the petite girl standing next to him. The fact she couldn't even sit down without it causing problems bothered him, but without the power to enact change, there was little he could do about it.
Closing his eyes, Paul exhaled a sigh through his nose before removing the thermos' cap and quenching his parched throat. When he was done, he returned the thermos to Xiangling, asking, "What do you think of this world?"
Losing a fair amount of her usual vigor, a sad look appeared in Xiangling's amber eyes as she replied, "We haven't even left the Academy, and I can already tell it isn't a pleasant place to live. I can't even imagine how hard things must be for the peasants, serfs, and slaves that make up so much of this world's population..."
With laws such as peasants having to hand over 30% of the dowry when they married off their young, often younger than ten-year-old daughters, it would be an understatement to say Xiangling wasn't particularly fond of the Asura Kingdom. Compared to her home nation of Liyue, it may as well have been Hell on Earth.
Agreeing with Xiangling's views, Paul nodded his head before leaning it back against the wall and saying, "We'll just have to fix things...it won't be easy, but it can't be much harder than saving two worlds..."
Regaining a bit of her vigor, at least on the surface, Xiangling muttered, "I suppose so..." before turning to stare out the nearby window. In truth, she didn't see any way to fix the world of Mushoku Tensei. That might change if Paul managed to summon the Qixing, but it would likely take decades to effect lasting change. Decades spent not restoring her world...
Observing Xiangling's lonely profile, Paul couldn't help feeling as though he had wronged her by summoning her into this world. Unfortunately, he didn't really have a choice. There was no way he could save the world on his own. Even if he trained for fifty years and somehow managed to attain the title of Sword God, he wouldn't last more than a few minutes against someone like Orsted. Since the latter needed to repeat his life more than a hundred times to have a chance of defeating Hitogami, Paul's only real options were to make use of the Intersection of Fate or somehow ensure the birth of Rudeus. However, even if he bedded Zenith on the exact day as the original Paul, there was no guarantee of her giving birth to Rudeus. It would depend entirely on the number of loops Orsted had made...
Freeing Paul and Xiangling from their respective reveries, Zhongli arrived with a wicker basket filled with bread, various jams, dried meat, and a few varieties of cheese. When she saw the duo staring off into empty space, a faintly apologetic smile developed across her face as she asked, "I hope I wasn't interrupting something...?"
Shaking his head, Paul answered, "I was just thinking about the future. If we're lucky, our numbers will increase to around nine by the time of our graduation. That's two more than the maximum Party size authorized by the Adventurer's Guild, so we made need to start a Mercenary Company under the banner of House Notos. It ultimately depends on who pops out of the Gacha..."
"Hmmm..."
Though she had thought about their circumstances more than Xiangling and Paul combined, Zhongli supplied, "You shouldn't be concerned with such things. While it is good to plan ahead, focusing all of your attention on the future leaves you blind to the present. Instead of pushing yourself all the time, you should seize opportunities such as this to relax. It takes a clear and serene mind to make wise and rational decisions. Here."
Holding a sandwich to Paul's mouth, Zhongli waited for him to accept it before shifting her gaze to Xiangling and adding, "You also need to stop concerning yourself with matters of the far future. Our reason for being in this world is to gather the strength necessary to save our own. Without it, there is no sense in even thinking about returning. Remember that."
Hanging her head and shoulders, Xiangling's usual vibrancy gave way to a depressive atmosphere as she muttered, "Right..."
Feeling that Zhongli had gone too far, Paul's expression morphed into a disproving look as he said, "There is nothing wrong with Xiangling missing her home. I mean, it's only been a few months before she was thrown into this situation. Give her some time to process things...not everyone can be like you..."
Returning a faint smile, Zhongli showed no signs of being offended by Paul's words. Instead, she just nodded her head, saying, "I understand." before picking up a piece of bread and biting into it. She didn't actually need to eat but did so in order to keep up appearances.
"..."
Feeling as though he had just tried to convince a wall it was in the wrong for blocking his way, Paul turned to Xiangling with an apologetic smile on his face. To his surprise, she just stared at him for several seconds before turning her head and whispering, "Thank you..." in a tone so quiet he could barely hear her.
"Uh...don't mention it..."
Convincing himself he was reading too much into Xiangling's behavior and response, Paul directed an inordinate amount of attention to his sandwich. Even if he wasn't imagining things, he had absolutely no intention of being involved with a member of the opposite sex until he was around 15-16. His status as the First Son of House Notos might make that impracticable, but that was a bridge he would cross when he came to it...
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After enjoying a light lunch, Paul, Zhongli, and Xiangling decided to head home for the day. They typically only had 1-2 classes per day, so unless Paul felt like engaging with his fellow Nobles, they would spend the vast majority of their time inside, either studying or training.
Unfortunately, Paul was rarely the one to initiate his exchanges with other Nobles. More often than not, they came seeking him as it was considered lowering himself or showing favor if Paul were to approach others.
Waiting along the path Paul, Zhongli, and Xiangling typically took to return to their abode was a young, blue-haired girl the trio recognized from their magical studies. Paul was unable to recall her name, but Zhongli managed to save him a bit of face by whispering, "Her name is Sera Vale Whitehare, Third Daughter of House Vale. Due to her extraordinary aptitude for Water and Healing Magic, her parents allowed her to attend the Academy. They hope to market her up to the Royal Palace as an exceptional Maid with the ability to heal."
Though the final tidbit of information caused him to frown, Paul thanked Zhongli with a silent nod before approaching Sera. When she noticed his presence, she immediately curtsied before adopting a smile that didn't quite reach her amethyst eyes as she said, "Good afternoon, Sir Paul. I hope my being here has not caused you any inconvenience."
Shaking his head, Paul offered a polite smile as he replied, "You need not concern yourself with such things. Now, to what do I owe the pleasure of this meeting, Lady Sera?"
Since Third Daughters and beyond were typically referred to as Miss or by their given names, Sera couldn't help smiling when Paul referred to her as a Lady. She was still only nine and a half years old, so it didn't take much to make her happy.
"You honor me with your words, Sir Paul. As for my purpose...if it isn't too imprudent of me, I would like to present you with a gift..."
Causing Paul's smile to cramp, Sera reached up and extended her fingers into her inordinately well-developed breasts. From within, she pulled out a tiny crystalline vial filled with a shimmering blue liquid, explaining, "This is a rare alchemical concoction known as Mana Draught. My parents gifted it to me with the hopes of increasing the amount of Mana I possess, but, due to a blunder on my part, I am no longer able to ingest it..."
Before Paul could ask what she meant, Sera adopted a self-deprecating smile as she explained, "My virginity was stolen from me near the end of my first year at the Academy. I didn't want my parents to force me back home, so I never told them about it. One of the conditions of consuming the Mana Draught is being a virgin, so I have held onto it in the hopes of forging ties with a powerful family..."
Realizing what must have happened, Paul asked, "Were you unable to get a job at the Royal Palace...?"
Adopting a forced smile, Sera, very softly, replied, "I did...just not within the main Palace. I was assigned as a second-grade attendant within the Palace of Concubines..."
Inhaling through his nose, Paul had to fight to keep his expression from morphing into a mixture of anger and pity. He had never witnessed it for himself, but he could imagine what kind of life Sera would have once she arrived. She would spend a few years healing broken and abused women while also experiencing abuse herself. In the end, much like Lilia had been in the original series, she would be thrown away the moment she became useless or irreparably damaged...
"I'm sorry..."
Shaking her head, Sera did her best to fight back her tears as she forced a marginally more sincere smile and said, "Just please remember me. I'm not sure if I will be of much use once my duty in the Palace of Concubines has ended, but I promise to do my best. Even if it's only for a few years, I believe I could die happily in the service of such a kind and hardworking Lord..."
Placing the vial of Mana Draught into Paul's hand, Sera took a moment to stare at Zhongli and Xiangling, adding, "I truly envy you..." before turning and walking away. Her words made it sound as though she wanted to be Paul's attendant, and, while that was true, the thing she envied most was Zhongli's and Xiangling's talent. If she was half as talented as they were, she might have been able to become a Guardian, the class of servants that personally attended members of the Royal Family. Instead, she was fated to spend the next seven to ten years mending the playthings of the extensive Royal Family until she, herself, was broken...
To those denied its favor, fate could be unspeakably cruel...

With the girls' uniforms expected to take a few days to prepare, Paul decided to start attending classes the following week. This gave him four days of additional preparation, time he filled reading up on the very basic curriculum, exercising, and sparring with Xiangling.
Though her vision was currently inert, Xiangling had a little more than eight years of experience wielding a spear, hunting, and battling against the monsters of her world. She had to adapt to her limited strength and stamina, but she was still head and shoulders above Paul in terms of skill and experience.
Putting Paul at an even greater disadvantage, the range of spears made it exceptionally difficult to counteract them with a sword. Unless he rushed at her with the intent of slamming his shoulder into her body, Paul found it impossible to approach within three meters of Xiangling without suffering a counter.
"Damnit...!"
With Xiangling forcing him to drop his sword by slapping his wrist with the flat of her wooden spear, tears swelled in the corners of Paul's eyes as he cradled his hand against his chest.
Feeling apologetic, Xiangling was about to set aside her spear and lend a hand when Paul held up his own, uninjured hand and said, "Stop...I won't get anywhere receiving pity. Just give me a moment to collect myself, and we'll continue."
Though his body was covered in cuts, nicks, and bruises, Paul knew the only way to become truly powerful in the world of Mushoku Tensei was to push through things like pain and overcome his limits. One of the greatest boons of Touki was the regeneration it provided, so he didn't mind bearing a bit of pain if it would help stir the ambiguous energy he knew slumbered deep within his body.
Taking a deep breath, Paul picked up his sword with his left hand; its tip pointed towards Xiangling as he muttered, "I'm coming..."&nbsp;
Nodding her head, Xiangling stood with her body half-turned to Paul, her spear held behind her back at a 40-degree angle to the ground. Her form was similar to a spear version of the Water God Style. She could go on the offensive but preferred using counters and swift, piercing thrusts to break her opponent's stance and target their weak spots.
Bobbing up and down to try and hype himself up, Paul gritted his teeth and waited for Xiangling to blink before lunging towards her as fast as his feet could carry. With her spear positioned behind her body, he estimated there were only a few directions she could attack from. So long as he co-
Completely contradicting Paul's line of thinking, Xiangling stepped toward him instead of trying to create distance. Her footwork allowed her to slip past the point of Paul's blade, her left hand hooking behind his head and neck before she pivoted on her heel and sent him tumbling onto his side using his momentum against him.
"Oof..."
Landing heavily on his already injured arm, the only thing preventing Paul from crying out in pain or curling up into a ball was sheer obstinance. He might be five years old, but his mind was that of a 33-year-old American farmhand. No matter how much pain she caused him, Paul wasn't going to give up so long as he could keep moving.
Fortunately, the spar was brought to an abrupt end when Zhongli stated, "That's enough." in a tone that didn't leave room for argument. Paul and Xiangling had both asked her to help teach them, so she had the final say in matters regarding their training.
"Xiangling, go and prepare lunch. I'll see to our Master's injuries and the remainder of his training."
Though she had wanted to help Paul wrap his hand, Xiangling replied with a faint, "Okay..." before trotting over and returning her spear to the nearby weapons rack. Then, after casting a concerned and slightly pensive gaze at Paul, he scampered off to the kitchen, her soles creating a soft pitter-patter as they impacted against the wooden floor.
Much like Paul himself, Xiangling couldn't really understand why he had been designated as their Champion. In her eyes, his only remarkable trait was his looks. However, even those had effectively been given to him as a result of circumstance...
Waiting until Xiangling had disappeared into the kitchen, Zhongli shifted her amber eyes to Paul, her voice calm yet imposing as she said, "Stand up. It is when your body wants to give out on you that you 'must' get up. More often than not, the only thing that qualifies a person as a true hero is their ability to get up when others would have quit."
With a pained groan, Paul forced himself to his left hand and knees, beads of sweat trickling from his forehead as he took several steadying breaths. Then, in one final, pained exertion, he rose to his feet with what he hoped to be a determined look in his eyes.
Nodding her head in approval, Zhongli created a thin pillar of Geo Energy, propelling Paul's sword into her hand before she held it towards him and said, "One hundred strikes with your left and as many as you can manage with your right. You may stop, but no longer than three seconds at a time."
Suppressing the almost overwhelming urge to complain, Paul grabbed the hilt of the 3kg wooden sword and raised it high over his head. Then, in the motion his father had demonstrated when he was three, he began slicing downward in a slow yet deliberate manner, exhaling on the way down and inhaling on the way up.
While 3kgs might not sound like a lot, roughly 6.5lbs, Paul was just five years old. His natural affinity with Touki made things a little easier, but it was nearly impossible for him to swing a 3kg 100 times in a row without stopping. By the time he felt like his rotator cuff was tearing, he had only completed twenty-nine strikes.
Instead of chastising Paul for his poor performance, Zhongli nodded her head and said, "Switch arms. I never said you had to do all 100 strikes in a single setting. When one of your arms gets tired, switch to the other."
Clenching his teeth with enough force to taste blood, Paul switched to his right arm and began swinging. His injured wrist gave him the paradoxical desire to punch a wall, but he managed to get out five strikes before the pain forced him to switch hands.
Observing Paul with crossed arms and a neutral expression on her face, Zhongli had similar thoughts to Xiangling. However, as someone that had lived thousands of years, she had seen countless examples of seemingly normal humans breaking through their limits and becoming powerhouses that even she couldn't underestimate. So long as Paul never gave up, he, too, would join the legions of Heroes that had carved their name into the foundation of history.
Though he ultimately ended up violating Zhongli's three-second limitation on resting, Paul managed to complete all 100 strikes with his left hand. By then, the pain in his left shoulder had even exceeded the pain in his wrist. Despite this, Paul managed a pained chuckle as he dropped his sword on the ground and collapsed to his knees.
"Is this your limit...?"
Hearing Zhongli's perpetually calm tone, Paul opened his eyes to find her staring down at him with an impassive expression on her face. Though he immediately regretted it, an insuppressible rush of anger washed over him as he groaned, "Eat...a dick..." through labored breathing.
"Hmmm...it would appear you still have some vigor left within you. That's good. In the future, use that to push yourself even further. So long as you never lose control, emotions can be a powerful asset."
Punctuating her words, Zhongli hunched down, grabbing Paul's right arm, pulling him across her shoulders, and hooking her remaining hand around his leg in a manner identical to a fireman's carry. This made it difficult for Paul to breathe, but Zhongli largely ignored his groans as she lugged his limp body over to the sauna/washroom...
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After one of the most hellish weeks of his life, Paul found himself standing outside one of the main lecture halls, patiently awaiting the teacher to call him in.&nbsp;
Contrasting the two girls standing on either side of him, Paul was wearing a two-tone green tunic accented over a long-sleeved white blouse and a pair of dark brown trousers sewn with an intricate, gold pattern. The tunic was trimmed in gold and had four belt-like straps running across the front and an ornate leather belt adorning his waist. As for the rest of his outfit, his feet were garbed in dark leather boots suited for riding, while his collar bore the crest of House Notos in the form of ornate golden lapel pins.
Standing out despite their comparably poor quality clothes, Zhongli and Xiangling wore matching uniforms that consisted of a long-sleeved green blouse, a predominately beige corset, and a marginally darker dress that extended past their knees and covered a pair of white stockings. On their feet, they wore glossy, black, single-strap pumps that complimented the dark trim of their outfit and black ribbons adorning their necks.
Though it was generally frowned upon for a 'servant' to wear the symbol of a Noble House, Paul had commissioned the local goldsmith to prepare brooch pins that would clearly denote Zhongli's and Xiangling's affiliation with House Notos. He knew it was only a matter of time before someone tried to claim the two girls for themselves, so Paul wanted to make it clear that they were off-limits.&nbsp;
Interrupting Paul's thoughts, the teacher, a middle-aged man with a round belly, receding black hair, and a hook-shaped mustache, opened the door to the classroom, stating, "Master Paul, the class ready to receive you and your...companions."
Leaving no room for confusion, Paul squinted his eyes and stated, "While I do not expect you to bow your head, you will regard these girls in a similar light as me. Do I make myself clear?"
Though his brows briefly furrowed, the teacher didn't even think to argue with Paul. The latter's father had even greater authority within the school than the Headmaster. He wasn't going to risk making an enemy out of the Regional Lord just to put a pair of servants in their place.
Crossing his hand over his heart, the teacher, better known as Professor Gaast, offered an overly respectful bow as he replied, "I have cared your words upon my very heart. Henceforth, I will treat the Ladies Zhongli and Xiangling with the respect they so clearly deserve..."
Squinting his eyes, Paul was about to point out the man's rather blatant sarcasm but ultimately decided against it. He was already compromising his first impression by standing outside the class entrance and making a fuss. Thus, without gesturing for Professor Gaast to rise, he bypassed the balding man and made his way towards the front of the classroom with a calm and dignified expression on his face.
"I am Paul Notos Greyrat, First Son of Amarant Notos Greyrat and Heir Apparent of House Notos, Lords of the Milbots Region. I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you. However, there is one thing I want to make transparently clear. These two, and anyone else bearing the crest of House Notos, are not yours to heckle, mock, or harass. If you are sincere about establishing ties with House Notos, you will treat them with dignity and respect. Anyone who violates this simple condition had better prepare themselves for the consequences..."
Though there were those among the group of thirty or so students that frowned in response to Paul's words, they were predominately the young sons of various Noble Houses. Most of the girls had expressions like their idol had just surprised them with a school visit. Paul was inarguably the most handsome fellow in the entire class. With his status as the First Son of House Notos, it wouldn't even take a week before he had secured his position as the most sought-after male in the entire school, regardless of his views on the matter. As for Zhongli and Xiangling, they would become the objects of envy for countless young men and women, some coveting their beauty while others simply wanted to 'prove themselves' by taking something away from Paul...

Chapter 11: MI11: Conflict Resolution