Mushoku Impact

In the wake of Jean's summoning, Paul ultimately ended up with the task of getting her up to speed. He thought it would have been better to leave such things to Zhongli, but that apparently wasn't the case as even Jean herself seemed keen on hearing what he had to say. When Paul asked for the reason, Jean was the one to answer, "First impressions are essential in establishing trust and a baseline for comparison. Your behavior and the information you provide allow others to make an initial assessment of your character. Using that, I can later ascertain whether or not you were being deceitful by communicating with others."
"..."
Though he had expected Jean's straightforwardness, Paul was still a little taken aback by it. Fortunately, his nearly six years as a Noble had given him a fair amount of resistance against such things. As a result, he was quickly able to regain his wits, stating, "I see. If that's the case, I will do my best to present a detailed account as well as listing out my expectations for the future..."
Responding in the manner expected of a Maid, Jean folded her hands over her lap and lowered her head in a flawless display of courtesy, her voice calm and composed as she replied, "Thank you, Master Paul. Your consideration and willingness to listen to counsel have already given me a positive impression of your character."
Pulled into Jean's pace, Paul found himself offering a markedly less but still courteous bow as he said, "You honor me with your words..."
Realizing the error he had just made, Paul's body briefly tensed. Jean's disposition and bearing were just so far removed from a Servant or Maid that he couldn't help regarding her as a Noble...
Fortunately for Paul, this seemed to bolster Jean's impression further as she adopted an approving, squinty-eyed smile...
...
..
.
Several hours after Paul's explanation and a small party to welcome her to the group, Jean was lying silently in bed, her pale-blue eyes focused on nothing in particular as a faint knock sounded at her door.
Rising to a seated position, Jean habitually checked herself over before calling out, "Please, enter."&nbsp;
Fortunately, not that she had expected him to enter her room in the middle of the night, the person at the door wasn't Paul. Instead, it was Zhongli wearing a vanilla-colored nightgown that reached down to her ankles.
"Having trouble sleeping...?"
Adopting a weary smile, Jean answered, "To be fair, I rarely got more than three hours of sleep back in our world. My duties and aspirations left me little time for things like leisure and relaxation..."
"Mmm..."
Making her way over to Jean's bedside, Zhongli pulled up a chair before taking a seat and inquiring, "And what is your 'initial assessment' of our new Master?"
Averting her eyes, Jean deliberated for several seconds, memories of the past few hours resurfacing in her mind as she answered, "I believe he is a good, honest man. But I can also tell he's hiding or, at the very least, holding something back. In a way, he reminds me of my younger sister...someone with great potential, but burdened by the expectations of others..."
Adopting a faint smile of her own, Zhongli remarked, "It's no wonder Grandmaster Varka entrusted the matter of protecting Mondstadt to you. Your insight and ability to ascertain a person's true nature are truly remarkable..."
Turning to meet Zhongli's gaze, Jean was about to ask for her opinion but remained silent as the former willingly explained, "Our predicament has placed a tremendous burden on Master Paul. Though he was given the option of whether or not to help us, his nature has compelled him to believe he 'must' help us. While that is certainly beneficial for our cause, I fear it is only a matter of time before he breaks under the strain of his perceived responsibilities. For that reason, I am relieved that you, of all people, were summoned. It appears Fate truly is on our Master's side..."
Understanding what Zhongli was trying to say, a self-deprecating smile developed across Jean's face. During her relatively short tenure as the Acting Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonia, she had worked herself to exhaustion on several occasions. She had gotten better at delegating towards the end of the Stormterror incident, but she still had first-hand experience deferring to and nearly breaking due to others' expectations.
"What would you have me do? I could offer him advice, but I fear it may sound illegitimate considering I'm in a similar situation. With the fates of two worlds on the line, even resting here in my room feels...negligent...I understand there is little I can do at the present moment, but it doesn't prevent me from feeling like I 'should' be doing something..."
Contrasting Jean's expectations, Zhongli responded with an affirmative nod, saying, "Good. That is, precisely, what you 'should' be doing."
"I'm afraid you've lost me..."
Amused by the doubtful expression on Jean's serious yet childish face, a soft chuckle emanated from Zhongli's throat before she went on to explain, "Just as you are concerned about Master Paul, he will invariably be worried about you. In the beginning, he will see your hard work and feel driven to put in even more effort. The closer he comes to injury, the greater your concern for his well-being. In turn, he will attempt to ease your anxieties by taking things slower and advising you to do the same. In essence, your righteous natures will help you to refine and ultimately restrain one another..."
"..."
Furrowing her brows, Jean fell into a contemplative state with one arm crossed, the other resting on top in a manner that allowed her to thumb her chin and nibble her index finger. Zhongli's words made it sound like she was advising her to become Paul's rival, but Jean got the distinct impression there was much more to it.
Seeing through Jean's thoughts, Zhongli removed any room for doubt by supplementing, "Your suspicions are correct. I'm asking you to fall in love with him. If there is anything I've learned from observing humans, it's that emotions like love allow them to overcome just about anything. What our Master needs, more than anything else, is a legitimate reason to dedicate himself to our cause. There is a distinct difference between simply doing what you believe is right and fighting to protect the people you love..."&nbsp;
While others might have felt offended or betrayed by Zhongli's words, Jean's expression hardly changed as she asked, "Are you sure I'm the best suited for the task? Based on my observations, there seems to be a burgeoning relationship between Master Paul and Xiangling. If that's the case, I may complicate matters by being too...persistent."
Instead of insisting she was correct, Zhongli emulated Jean's posture as she answered, "Truth be told, this is mere speculation based on my part. All I know for certain is that Master Paul needs something 'more' to anchor him to our cause. It is no coincidence the Gods in charge of the Boundaries had us make certain compromises. This world is also a far cry from our own. The sensibilities of people here are less...refined. Master Paul is an exception, but that may very well be the reason for his inevitable breakdown. When one's views differ drastically from the rest of the world, it weighs heavily on the mind."
"I see...so what you're saying is I'm not necessarily the best option, just the most convenient given the circumstances..."
Nodding her head in affirmation, Zhongli adopted an apologetic smile as she said, "I've made an effort to break down our Master's defenses, but my actions have had the opposite of the intended effect. I believe I can achieve greater results once this body matures, but that is a matter for the future. For now, what our Master needs the most is someone he can compete against and grow alongside."
Though she could guess Zhongli's response, Jean asked the obvious, specifically, "And what about Xiangling?"
Closing her eyes, Zhongli explained, "I'm afraid Xiangling is a little too emotional and prone to negativity. She has improved considerably over the past few months, but her behavior has only added to our Master's perceived burdens. It will likely take several years before she matures to the point of being able to make rational judgments in matters such as this."
Nodding in both affirmation and understanding, Jean said, "Very well. It will take some time, but I'm confident I can fall in love if things progress according to your predictions. Given Master Paul's physical appearance and disposition, it shouldn't be too difficult."
Though she found the present Paul more adorable than attractive, Jean could tell he would grow into a handsome man. He also took his training very seriously, so it wasn't difficult to picture his physique developing in a favorable direction. Once he put on a bit of muscle, Paul would be well within Jean's underused but still-existent strike zone.
Believing their conversation to be finished, Zhongli rose to her feet and said, "Then I entrust this matter to you. Just keep in mind that it is not a duty exclusive to you. This world has very...open views on relationships. Instead of restraining him, you should consider actively supporting our Master's relationships with others. After all, given his status as the next Lord of Milbots, it may not be possible for the two of you to marry until we remedy the decay and corruption within the Asura Kingdom. Given that, Master Paul will likely be forced to accept a political engagement once he comes of age at ten. Keep that in mind."
Though she felt goosebumps spreading across her body when Zhongli mentioned the Asura Kingdom's remarkably low standard for adulthood, Jean still nodded her head in affirmation. Common sense told her it was utterly ridiculous to consider ten years old and adult, but as Zhongli had pointed out, her common sense didn't apply in this situation. If she were to go around telling people it was wrong, the vast majority would look at her as if she was the one speaking nonsense...
"I'll keep that in mind...thanks..."
Returning a nod of her own, Zhongli made her way for the entrance of Jean's room but stopped at the threshold, revealing, "Worry not...you're not the only one disturbed by this world's logic. Master Paul, Xiangling, and I have similar thoughts. If I still had my powers as the Geo Archon, I would have laid waste to the Silver Palace within hours of my arrival..."
Turning back to reveal a severe expression on her face, Zhongli added, "Our Master has yet to voice his thoughts on the matter, but he keeps a small journal within his breast pocket. He records the name of everyone he has failed to save. When the time comes, I have no doubt he will do everything in his power to 'redeem' himself..."
Understanding the meaning of Zhongli's words, Jean adopted a resolute expression of her own as she said, "Then that settles the matter. Even if I must sacrifice myself a thousand times over, I will continue supporting our Master till the end."
Offering one final nod, Zhongli muttered, "Well said, Dandelion Knight..." before departing Jean's room with a smile. Jean's arrival had solved a lot of the problems that were beginning to plague their growing group. Zhongli had no doubt others would appear, but having such a stalwart and unfaltering ally certainly made things easier...
...
..
.
Unaware that Zhongli and Jean had conspired together to effectively honeytrap him, Paul was taking advantage of his Demon Eyes of X-Ray Vision to write in near-absolute darkness. Jean's arrival, at least in his opinion, had completely changed things. He had no doubts she would rise through the Ranks of the Sword God Style like a rocket, so, even if the future promised pain, Paul was looking forward to polishing his skills against a truly prodigious swordswoman...

"Master Paul...Master Paul...it's time to wake up..."
"Hmmm...?"
Opening his eyes, Paul was nearly startled out of his skin when he saw Jean's face mere centimeters away from his own. Only the head of his bed was adjacent to a wall, so he nearly ended up falling off the other side till Jean promptly grabbed his ankle, stating, "Sorry, it was not my intention to startle you..."
Recovering from his initial shock, Paul gave his chest a comforting pat as he looked at the nearby clock and asked, "What are you doing here so early, Jean? Did something happen...?"
Releasing Paul's ankle, Jean shook her head, explaining, "Yesterday evening, you asked me to help with your training. I usually start a few hours before sunrise, but we can wait till later if you'd prefer to sleep in."
"Ah..."
Recalling that he had, in fact, asked Jean to help him train, Paul fell into a contemplative silence. He knew Jean was a very 'earnest' woman, but waking him up at 2:30 AM when the sun wasn't supposed to rise until 7 AM was a bit extreme...
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Paul reminded himself that true power wasn't something he could obtain without effort. If he wanted to keep up with people like Xiangling and Jean, he needed to train at least as hard as they did.
"Understood. Give me a few minutes to wash up and get ready."
Seemingly anticipating Paul's words, Jean hefted a steaming bucket of water off the floor, saying, "Allow me. I've prepared warm water and a fresh towel. Please remember your shirt, Master Paul."
Raising his hands, Paul's smile began to cramp as he said, "Thanks, but I can-"
"I'm afraid I must insist, Master Paul. It is the duty of a Maid to attend her Master. The other members of the Aristocracy might ridicule you if they learned that you, the First Son of a Great and Noble House, bathed yourself."
Recalling Zhongli making a similar argument when she first intruded in on him in the bath, Paul's teeth briefly rattled before he got his nerves under control and asked, "You're not going to let up, are you...?"
Returning a faint smile, Jean answered, "It's either this or we head to the bath. Master Paul's current form is still young, so I don't feel guilty about bathing you. Just mind your hands and eyes."
As if the matter was already decided, Jean leaned forward to help Paul unbutton his pajama top. He was tempted to smack her hands away but ultimately decided against it. After all, while he had frequently insisted on taking care of himself, it was a fact that other Nobles in his position had entire teams of Maids and Attendants to help them prepare for their day. When he had initially set out for the Academy, his mother had been justifiably concerned that Paul would be bullied once the other students discovered he was without so much as a single servant. Instead, thanks to Zhongli, Xiangling, and his Demon Eyes, Paul had earned a reputation as someone with a discerning eye...
...
..
.
"As Master Paul has undoubtedly learned, the most critical aspects of mastering swordsmanship are relaxation, balance, and footwork. Speed is also an integral component, but mastery of the other three allows you to brandish your blade swiftly and react to virtually any situation. In its penultimate form, proper swordsmanship resembles a dance...one that takes advantage of the opponent's flow or breaks it outright..."
While providing her explanation, Jean was executing a series of graceful sweeps using a thin, rapier-like wooden sword. She wasn't exaggerating when she said it resembled a dance. As someone with nearly two years of experience with ballroom dancing, Paul felt like he was getting drawn into her pace just observing her.
Concluding her performance with a graceful, three-hundred-and-sixty degree sweeping pirouette, Jean exhaled a tiny plume of condensation before adopting a neutral posture and jokingly appending, "This is much more difficult than I remember..."
As someone that had received her Vision at a very young age, Jean was accustomed to the feeling of her blade gliding through the air with little resistance. She was capable of executing the same movements without a vision, but her still-developing body lacked the strength necessary to wield her sword freely. Paul might not have noticed it, but Jean felt like her sword was the one leading her. The near-freezing air temperatures weren't helping any.
"Do you need to rest...?"
Adopting a faint smile, Jean swept her sword in a graceful arc towards the center of her body, her eyes peering at Paul from behind the thin, wooden blade as she said, "I'm still getting warmed up. There are four hours until sunrise, and I intend to use every second of them..."
Feeling the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, Paul took a step back, his body turned sideways and sword held aloft in a manner known as a hanging guard stance. The only thing preventing him from entering the Intermediate Rank of the Water God Style was his small stature and lack of strength. He had all the Beginner forms down, so he was able to catch the tip of Jean's preliminary slice.
Though she had never encountered the Water God Style before, Jean's expression remained as calm and serene as a frozen lake. The moment she realized Paul was stepping forward to try and knock her off balance with his shoulder, she seamlessly slipped past him, their faces coming within 3cm of each other as she whispered, "Good reaction..."
Opening his mouth, Paul was left at a loss for words as Jean finished slipping past him, the tip of her sword running from his armpit to his thigh as she said, "But still sloppy. When you step in with your sword raised like that, all the vitals on the left side of your body are exposed. The stance compensates by having you turn away from your opponent, but it's useless if you let them slip past you..."
"..."
Adopting a neutral posture with the pommel of his sword located just above his groin and the tip angled toward Jean, a stance unironically referred to as the Dragon Horn Stance, Paul relaxed his body and said, "Again." in a resolute tone.
Though she raised her brows at Paul's rather unorthodox stance, Jean didn't underestimate it. She realized from their initial exchange that Paul was a lot stronger than her. She had the advantage of speed, skill, and flexibility, but his snap-parry had nearly knocked her sword clean out of her hands.
Raising her sword in the same manner as before, Jean silently observed Paul's stance. One of the significant weaknesses of the Water God Style was that it had few offensive techniques. It revolved around waiting for your opponent to strike before counterattacking with extreme swiftness or disruptive force. Jean immediately saw through this particular defect, a faint smile developing across her face as she stated, "The Water God Style does not suit you..."
Believing she was trying to bait him into lowering his guard, Paul didn't respond to Jean's words. Instead, his focus continued to increase as he focused on her knees, thighs, and hips. They were the first parts of the body to move when a person was preparing to strike. Women also had lower centers of gravity than men, so it was difficult for them to perform even small movements without swaying their hips.
Feeling a little unnerved by Paul's intense focus on her lower body, an awkward smile developed across Jean's face as she inquired, "Master Paul...you aren't using your Demon Eyes of X-Ray Vision, are you?"
Startled by Jean's words, Paul's eyes and mouth widened as he raised his head with the intention of defending himself. In that exact moment, Jean thrust forward with significantly greater speed than anything she had shown before, the tip of her sword tapping the underside of Paul's chin as she remarked, "The Water God Style's alleged weakness against feints and taunts is proving to be accurate..."
Brandishing her sword to the side, away from Paul's neck, Jean took a step back and added, "Training should be regarded in a similar light as actual combat. Rules are important, but they are ultimately pointless if adhering to them gets you killed. When we train, I want you to view me as an actual enemy. I will use any means to secure victory against you, so you should do the same. Understood?"
Without waiting for Paul's response, Jean sliced towards him with a reverse, sweeping motion. He managed to step out of her range and angle the tip of his sword toward her face, but Jean managed to slide forward, narrowly evading his blade by ducking underneath it. In the same motion, she thrust the tip of her sword just above his navel, her face an expressionless mask as she calmly stated, "And that makes three..."
...
..
.
When Jean first mentioned she was just getting warmed up, Paul had seriously underestimated the weight of that statement. As a five, nearly six-year-old kid, his stamina was spent after around twenty minutes of active sparring. He could perform routine training for hours on end, but as any fighter, boxer, or mixed martial artist could attest, actual combat was incomparably exhausting.
Though Paul had persevered for a full half-hour thanks to his Healing Magic, Jean immediately followed their sparring session by resuming her sword dance. Her body was completely covered in sweat, so much so that a visible cloud of steam was rising from her tiny frame, but she simply refused to stop. When Paul asked her how she could keep going, Jean took a moment to catch her breath before answering, "Because I must...shortcomings do not overcome themselves..."
After sparring against Paul, Jean had a much better understanding of her current capabilities. She wasn't particularly disappointed, but she was nowhere near satisfied with her immediate strength. Thus, taking advantage of the fact that people in Mushoku Tensei developed faster than people from her world, Jean intended to exceed her original self by the time Paul was preparing to graduate. After that, she was determined to reach the Ranks of Sword King and Sword Emperor by the ages of 15 and 20, respectively.
Fearing that Jean would continue for the remaining three hours without a break, all while he just sat on the sidelines, Paul begrudgingly pushed himself to his feet and began swinging his sword. His body cried out in protest, but he wouldn't be able to live with himself if he established the precedent of simply watching others improve.
Seeing Paul pick up his sword, an approving smile developed across Jean's face as she observed him out of the corner of her eye. He still had a long way to go in terms of disposition and mentality, but those were seldom the factors that allowed people to surpass themselves. Instead, it was sheer determination and hard work that allowed even the average to become extraordinary...
"This mission may be easier than I initially expected..."
...
..
.
Though every muscle and tendon in his body screamed out in pain, Paul had a deadpan expression on his face as Xiangling held up the edges of her dress and shifted her weight, barefoot on his back. She had noticed him lying limply on the sofa when she exited her room and, after a bit of back forth, proposed giving him a massage.&nbsp;
After being 'tormented' by Jean during training and subsequent bath, Paul didn't have the willpower to refuse Xianglin's request. Instead, he just rolled over onto his stomach, occasional grunts escaping his throat as her surprisingly warm feet, soles, and toes dug into various pressure points on his back. She had learned how to give massages to repay her father for all the pans and woks she ruined in her previous life, so, with Jean taking over her duties as Paul's training partner, Xiangling felt that giving him a foot massage and cooking a hearty meal was the least she could do...

Though his Mana pool was almost comically low, Paul spent the months following his 'awakening' focused on three things. First and foremost, he would look for opportunities throughout the day to expend most, not all of his Mana. He didn't want to lose consciousness in the middle of class, so he always stopped just as the edges of his vision began to darken.
When he wasn't focused on increasing his Mana capacity, Paul was wholly dedicated to the pursuit of simply swinging his sword. His instructor in the Water God Style, Miss Rena Greenbull, had explained to the class that the secret to stimulating Touki was simply using your sword so frequently that it felt like an extension of yourself, not just your arm. It was for this reason that swordsmen who had roused their Touki could fight ambidextrously or even with their swords in their mouths. Using a sword effectively became a part of their autonomic processes, much like breathing or the beating of their heart.
Though Paul didn't truly understand his instructor's words, he wasn't even remotely deterred. He was still only five years old, and, more importantly, her lessons gave him a few ideas on how he might be able to stimulate his Touki much sooner than expected. Ideas that greatly benefitted his third, arguably most crucial focus.
Paul's eyes had become remarkably photosensitive ever since his abrupt awakening of the Demon Eyes of X-Ray Vision. In the days that followed, his eyes were so sensitive that a dark room glowed like midday. When he was exposed to natural sunlight, it was so blindingly bright that he had no choice but to close his eyes or cover them with a dark cloth.
Back in his previous world, one of the few animes Paul had watched, even if it was only a few episodes, was Jujutsu Kaisen. He thought some of the fight choreography was badass, so after seeing a few youtube videos, he eventually gave in and checked out the first 5-6 episodes.
Among the varied cast of Jujutsu Kaisen characters, Paul's favorite was, inarguably, Satoru Gojo. The man wasn't simply a beast in terms of raw speed and power, but his classic ensemble of dark clothing and a dark black cloth covering his eyes had made him an icon among even casual anime viewers.
Unfortunately, while Paul was able to emulate Gojo's classic look and peer through a blindfold, it looked tacky and was remarkably uncomfortable. It didn't help that he had to keep his eyes open as one of the restrictions of the Demon Eyes of X-Ray Vision was their inability to see through people and high-density mana. In other words, much like a normal person, Paul could not see with his eyes closed.
While the prolonged wearing of a blindfold proved impossible, it helped Paul control his Demon Eyes and practice his swordsmanship. So long as he restricted the amount of Mana flowing to his eyes, his photosensitivity would be weakened to a tolerable level. The blindfold also narrowed his vision during training, forcing him to remain calm and focused, a state of mind that gradually improved his sense of balance and spatial awareness.
Though he still couldn't keep up with Xiangling in terms of speed, skill, and fluidity of motion, Paul quickly leaped to the head of the pack once he returned to class and started attending swordsmanship training. The Water God Style focused on fluidity and reactionary strikes, so the rather sudden and drastic increase in his patience gave Paul an edge over other, unrepentantly rambunctious Nobles. Miss Rena had even commented that it was like his entire disposition changed, going from someone who was a sure fit for the Sword God Style to someone who could master any Style to a reasonable degree...
...
..
.
In what felt like the blink of an eye, ten months had passed since Paul's stay in the Milbots Academy. His father had asked him to come home for a few months to celebrate his birthday, so, in preparation for their coming departure, Paul had gathered Zhongli and Xiangling to both inform them and ask, "Now that I've saved a hundred Asura Gold Coins, what do the two of you think about trying to expand our ranks?"
Without any hesitation whatsoever, Zhongli answered, "That sounds like a marvelous idea, Master Paul. Even if the likelihood of summoning them is remarkably slim, we should be seeking to assemble my fellow Archons as quickly as possible. Both Xiangling and myself would also benefit from the addition of a Constellation, so I can see no major downsides to accessing the Intersection of Fate at this time."
Though he nodded his head in response to Zhongli's words, Paul turned his attention to Xiangling to hear what she had to say. When he did, she offered a pleasant yet wry smile as she answered, "So long as you don't summon someone like Xinyan, Xingqiu, or Hu Tao, I think it should be fine."
"..."
Suppressing his urge to say, "Bruh." Paul adopted a wry smile of his own as he said, "You really shouldn't say things like that. It's like asking fate to mess with us..."
Tilting her head to the side, Xiangling asked, "Should I have said it would be bad to summon Ningguang or Keqing then...?"
Exhaling a sigh, Paul shook his head and explained, "Unfortunately, the RNG Gods are not so easily fooled. The more you want something, the less like you are to obtain it, and any attempts to 'game' the system will just result in...."
Recalling a certain purple-haired zombie, a cold shiver ran through Paul's body. It didn't help that said zombie was among the very last things Paul witnessed before his death...
Shaking his head, Paul reminded himself that the people he summoned through the Intersection of Fate weren't characters. Even Xiangling had incredible potential, and, were it not for her, he probably would have been the one preparing all of their meals the past few months.
"Well, let's get on with it. There's only a week or so before the convoy arrives to pick us up, so I'll be relying on the two of you to help catch any new allies up to speed. Who knows, with my luck, I may only summon a bunch of weapons?"
After experiencing how powerful the weapons summoned through the Intersection of Fate were, Paul had convinced himself there was no such thing as a 'bad pull' from his personalized Gacha System. After all, even if he did end up summoning the Harbinger of Unmet Expectations, he would have an immortal herb collector who could potentially heal her allies once her Vision was active.
Confident of his assessment, Paul opened the Intersection of Fate for the first time in nearly ten months. The interior hadn't changed at all since his previous visit, but that wasn't too surprising since time ostensibly stopped while he was away.
"Now, how do I turn gold into Fates...?"
Anticipating Paul's question, Zhongli pointed to the groove located near where he was meant to place his hands, explaining, "Insert the coins into the groove. Once the value reaches a certain point, an Acquaint Fate will manifest in the closest slot."
Nodding his head in understanding, Paul knelt down on the hard stone floor, remarking, "Remind me to bring a pillow or something the next time we enter..."
Though his comment had been more of a joke than anything else, Zhongli unhesitantly replied, "Very well, Master Paul." before offering a faint smile when Paul looked back at her with a deadpan expression on his face.
Just as Zhongli had explained, inserting ten Asuran Gold Coins into the conveniently coin-sized groove caused a flash of rainbow light to appear in the slot nearest to Paul. Ninety gold coins later, he had a configuration of ten Acquaint Fates. All he needed to do was place his palm on the dais and shout 'confirm.'
After a very brief moment of hesitation, Paul placed his hands into the oversized grooves and shouted, "Confirm!" with as much conviction as he could manage. Then, despite convincing himself there was no such thing as a bad pull, his heart started racing when the meteor in the sky shifted from a vibrant shade of blue to a glorious shade of gold.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Hahahahahaha-!"
Though there was still a chance he had pulled the Fallen God, Paul could not contain himself. The odds of summoning a 5-Star were less than 1%, so each one he drew was a Blessing from the Heavens.
Seeing Paul laughing like a madman, Xiangling leaned closer to Zhongli and asked, "Did he act like this when he summoned me?"
Returning a faint smile, Zhongli replied, "No. However, he has since come to regret his behavior at that time. You might not be the most powerful, but you are certainly his most precious ally..."
Feeling a little better after hearing Zhongli's words, Xiangling shifted her attention to the center of the platform just in time to witness the golden light crashing into it. When she saw who emerged, even she couldn't help smiling.
Though she was currently in the form of a little girl with gold-blonde hair, everyone present could immediately deduce the identity of the petite, blue-eyed, remarkably adorable girl. However, Paul was the first to utter her name, whispering, "Jean Gunnhildr..." in an audibly shaky tone.
Raising her head, Jean briefly locked eyes with Paul before looking past him at the two people standing a few meters away. It took her a moment, but she quickly realized the doll-like girl with brown hair was the former Geo Archon, while the little girl with looping braids was Xiangling.
Suppressing her urge to greet the two people she was familiar with; Jean adopted a severe expression that didn't suit her adorable appearance as she met Paul's gaze and stated, "You must be the Champion...Paul Notos Greyrat, my new Master..."
Similar to when Zhongli and Xiangling had first appeared, Jean was wearing a Maid outfit that closely resembled her sister Barbara's clothing from the game. The base was an unsullied shade of white with dark-blue trim that perfectly accentuated the ribbon tying up her ponytail. As for the rest of her outfit, it consisted of pure white hose and glossy, single-strap black pumps.
Placing his hand over his heart, Paul nearly performed a Noble's greeting before awkwardly dropping it and answering, "Yes, though you only need to refer to me as such in public. In private or in situations where my status is of no consequence, I would prefer it if you called me Paul."
Demonstrating the seriousness she was known for in the game, Jean's expression formed into a slight pout as she muttered, "I see...I will do my best to remember that. However, given the significance of your status, it would be easier for me to address you as Master. Fraternization may lead to familiarity, but it also causes complacency and obfuscation within the chain of command. As the core and leader of our group, it is only natural that you bear a title befitting your status, Master."
"..."
Unable to refute Jean's words, Paul paused for a moment before nodding his head and saying, "Very well. If you believe it will be easier, feel free to address me as Master."
Returning a nod and a polite curtsy, Jean replied, "I shall." before rising to her full, 114cm height. While this sounded short, she was actually slightly taller than Paul due to girls developing faster than boys. Paul noticed this, but didn't let it bother him as he knew it was only a matter of time before he caught up and towered over her. His father, Amarant, was nearly two meters in height, so the 112cm Paul still had a lot of room for growth. Did it matter? Not really. He just wanted to be tall...
...
..
.
(A/N: For those that don't know, the characters that appear in this novel are random. I was just as stoked as Paul when he managed to pull Jean xD.)

Chapter 15: MI15: Providence