Mushoku Impact

"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...

After penning a letter to his father and waiting nearly two weeks for a response, Paul couldn't help feeling disappointed when he opened it to find the exact answer he expected.
"What does it say...?"
Looking to the blue-haired girl standing off to his left, Paul's expression became somber as he explained, "My father contacted House Vale to try and reach an accord, but they refused. The person who sanctioned Sera's addition to the Palace of Concubines was the 8th Prince of the preceding generation, the current King's youngest brother. House-"
With tears building in the corners of her eyes, Xiangling slapped the table, screaming, "We have to help her! It...it isn't right to send such a young girl off to such a terrible place...!"
Closing his eyes, Paul was doing his best to appear calm as he answered, "We're weak, Xiangling. Trying to oppose the Royal Family with our current power will get us killed. If we die, then there would be no one to save our worlds...no one to save the girls that would inevitably replace Sera..."
With Xiangling trembling in indignant rage and sadness at his side, Paul reached into the top drawer of his desk for a small lockbox. Inside was the tiny crystalline vial Sera had gifted him two weeks prior, the interior filled with three drops of highly condensed, almost gelatine-like beads of Mana.
Seeing the crystalline vial, Xiangling wiped away some of the tears from her eyes as she asked, "Are you going to take them?"
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul answered, "Now, more than ever, I feel the need to grow stronger. Sera gave these to me in exchange for a place to belong. If I die before then, I will have failed her thrice over..."
Rising to his feet, Paul made his way to the kitchen in order to retrieve a large glass of water. Trying to consume the concentrated Mana directly could burn the inside of your mouth and throat, so it was recommended to place a single drop into a large glass of cold milk or water.&nbsp;
Having spotted Paul and Xiangling exiting the former's bedroom, Zhongli set aside her long-armed feather duster to check and see what they were doing. When she spotted the vial in Paul's hands, she asked, "Are you sure you wish to consume them now? If you wait another year or two, you may have enough Mana to cast a Beginner Level Detoxification Spell. You still have a lot of room for growth, Master Paul. If you injure yourself now, you risk undoing all the progress you've made these past few months."
Though he understood where Zhongli was coming from, Paul maintained a resolute expression as he answered, "There is one thing I learned back in my previous world, Zhongli. When presented with a choice like this, those with powerful fates will surely pull through. If I falter at a time like this, I may as well resign myself to the position of a Regional Lord and let you all handle everything..."
Without waiting for Zhongli's response, Paul dropped one of the glowing blue beads of Mana into the glass. The moment it came into contact with the water, it dissolved like a piece of cotton candy. In its wake, Paul held a glass of glowing blue water that, if you listened closely, emanated soft sounds similar to a wind chime.
Understanding that the Mana would dissipate rapidly, Paul didn't allow himself to be mesmerized by the glacial-looking water. Instead, he took one final breath before downing the entire glass in a series of large gulps. Swallowing it was like chugging a glass of piping hot coffee and a glass of ice water at the same time, but Paul didn't stop until the glass was totally empty. Then, just as Zhongli had predicted, he promptly collapsed like a marionette that had its strings cut, his body lightly convulsing in her arms as she whispered, "How reckless..." with a faint smile on her face.
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Waking after being unconscious for nearly six hours, the first thing Paul noticed was a tension headache that made the back of his head feel like it was going to explode. The next thing he noticed was Xiangling sleeping at the side of his bed with a bucket of cool water and several rags sitting on the table next to him.
"Haaaaa..."
Exhaling a pained sigh, Paul was about to wake Xiangling when he noticed something odd. Her clothes seemed to be radiating a soft glow, and, upon closer inspection, he noticed that his entire room was unusually bright.
"Don't tell me..."
Looking to his bedside table, Paul confirmed that the oil lamp was set to its lowest setting. Despite this, he could clearly make out every feature of the room, even the titles of books located several meters away from him. It was almost as though he had developed night vision. Either that or he could suddenly see the Mana contained within objects...
Returning his attention to Xiangling, Paul quickly dismissed the notion he could see Mana. He could make out the features of her hair and face, but it was only her clothes that were glowing. He knew she had a remarkable amount of Mana for her age, so it wouldn't make sense for her to be mute while her clothes appeared to be getting brighter by the moment.
Focusing on the phenomenon, Paul immediately came to regret it when he noticed Xiangling's clothes gaining a translucent quality. There were times when she helped to wash his back, but she always made sure to wear two layers of towels, one around her body and one around her bottom.
Turning away before he could catch a glimpse of something he shouldn't, Paul attempted to focus on pretty much anything else within the room. In the end, he decided on a dimple in the wall, the remnants of a small hole that had been painted over.
Similar to when Paul had focused on Xiangling's clothes, the wall steadily gained a translucent quality. More accurately, an oval that was wider than it was tall formed on the wall, layer after layer of the building's materials being revealed until Paul could see clearly into the next room.
"The Demon Eyes of X-Ray Vision..."
Recognizing his ability from the original series, contradicting waves of excitement and frustration washed over Paul. He had planned to visit the Demon Continent at some point to track down Kishiraka or whatever her name was, the reincarnated Demon Empress. If he managed to find and help her, she would have rewarded him with one or more Demon Eyes of his choosing.
The problem with awakening Demon Eyes naturally was that it prevented you from acquiring an additional set. Fortunately, awakening even a single Demon Eye was pretty rare. Paul was apparently the exception to this as both of his eyes now emitted a faint golden glow that was visible against his palms when he took turns covering his eyes.
"There goes my dream of obtaining Demon eyes of Magic Power and Identification..."
Shaking his head to clear his negative thoughts, Paul was reminded of the fact that he had a pulsating headache. He did his best to hold it in, but a pained groan escaped his throat as he cradled his head with both hands. Xiangling heard this and, upon waking up, immediately raised her hands to chant, "Divine Power, become a nourishing light that gives strength to those in need. Healing...!"
Following Xiangling's slightly modified chant, pale red light emanated from her palms. Paul could feel his body warming up as the usually gentle light washed over him, but instead of providing relief for his headache, it made it a lot worse. So much so that an involuntary whimper escaped his throat as he muttered, "Please stop..."
Realizing she had somehow made things worse, Xiangling began to panic as she bounced to her feet and shouted, "I'm getting Zhongli! Just hold on...!"
Fortunately for both Xiangling and Paul, Zhongli opened the door at nearly that exact moment, calmly advising, "Compose yourself, Xiangling. Panic is rarely the appropriate response to a situation."
Though she wanted to protest, Xiangling ultimately slumped her head and shoulders as Zhongli promptly walked past her. When she reached Paul's bedside, her glowing, diamond-shaped pupils expanded and contracted a few times before she said, "You need to oust the Mana from your body as soon as possible. Your life isn't in any danger, but you might become blind if you don't expel it soon. Your occipital lobe, the region of your brain that controls your vision, is swelling."
Forcing a wry smile, Paul groaned, "That actually makes a lot of sense..." before raising his hand and droning, "Please just fucking work...Healing...!"
Since the most crucial aspect to casting Magic was visualization, it was possible to forgo the chant entirely if you had a good imagination. Paul had always imagined the scene of Orihime, a character from a popular anime known as Bleach, practically rewriting causality with her healing abilities. He doubted he would ever reach that point, but the only other scene Paul could vividly recall was Wolverine regenerating from having his entire musculature incinerated by a nuclear bomb.
Fortunately, unlike every other time Paul tried using Healing Magic, this time a faint green glow emanated from his body. It lasted less than two seconds, but the amount of relief he felt was enough to make him slump in his bed, a satisfied and prolonged groan emanating from his throat.
With a visibly amused smile on her face, Zhongli remarked, "Good job. You let it out splendidly..."
Though Xiangling didn't seem to catch it, Paul stared at the young Archon with a deadpan expression on his face, entreating, "Please don't start with that crap...I get that you're trying to lighten the mood, but there are much better ways..."
Without losing her smile, Zhongli remarked, "Perhaps." before turning to Xiangling and ordering, "Prepare a fresh bucket and some clean towels. Our Master needs to cleanse himself. I will put on some teas."
Since they had previously agreed that Zhongli would be the Chief Maid, Xiangling could only sigh and do as she was told. Before leaving, however, she gave Paul one last glance and said, "I'm glad you woke up..."
Blinking in surprise, Paul waited until Xiangling had left the room before looking up at Zhongli and asking, "Was my condition that bad...?"
Nodding her head in affirmation, Zhongli sat down in Xiangling's previous spot before explaining, "The nucleus that contains a person's Mana is like a rigid container. It is possible to increase the size by straining the vessel and repairing the cracks, but if there is too much damage...well, it would be like trying to glue together a fine ceramic vase. Even if you managed to do so, it would constantly be at risk of fracturing a second time..."
Noticing the concern in Paul's eyes, Zhongli's expression softened as she said, "Worry not. While your actions were beyond reckless, it seems your intuition was correct. Perhaps that is the reason the Gods saw fit to give you access to the Intersection of Fate...it appears the Goddess of Fate has seen fit to give you her Blessing..."
Catching Paul by surprise, Zhongli suddenly pulled away his covers to reveal the thing he had been trying to ignore since his awakening. Then, like an ice-cold Demoness, she said, "You should take care of that before Xiangling returns. I took care of it when you originally collapsed, but it's your responsibility from here."
With eyes rounder than saucers, Paul felt a sensation similar to an electric shock spread through his body as he half-whispered, half-exclaimed, "Are you fucking serious!? Please tell me you're bullshitting me...!"
Without losing even a hint of her composure, Zhongli stated, "Your body had several tens of times the amount of Mana it could contain. It had to come out somewhere..."
"Oh my fucking god..."
Cradling his head in his hands, Paul refused to so much as look at the stone-faced girl seated next to him. He knew she had done it to save his life, but if he were being perfectly honest, he wished she had just let him die. The shame and embarrassment he was feeling were so overwhelming he seriously considered running headfirst into a wall...
Showing little compassion for Paul's current state, Zhongli rose to her feet and said, "I can buy you ten minutes." before departing the room. In truth, the experience had been significantly more awkward for her than Paul, as he was at least able to sleep through it. She was the one that had to take proactive measures to preserve both his life and the billions that inhabited their respective worlds. With stakes like that, there were no extremes she wasn't willing to go...

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...

Chapter 12: MI12: Whims of Fate