Mushoku Impact

"Your da-I mean, Lord Notos really gave you all of this...?"
Seeing the medium-sized chest a group of burly servants had brought to Paul's private quarters, Xiangling couldn't help staring in disbelief. It was far from the largest chest she had seen, but it was filled to the brim with neatly stacked Asura Gold Coins. She didn't know how deep each stack was, but there were thirty-five across and twenty wide.
Guessing what Xiangling was thinking, Paul explained, "There are 70,000 Asura Gold Coins within this chest. It was initially intended to be used as funds to furnish my annex, hire personnel, and purchase books. Now, my father has given it to me to spend as I please..."
Despite his relatively calm tone, Paul was staring at the contents of the chest with even greater bewilderment than Xiangling. 70,000 Asura Gold Coins were enough to bankroll 700 consecutive 10-Pulls. Even if he only acquired a new ally every 70 pulls, he would have ten more people in his entourage. The question was whether or not that was a good thing...
Noticing Paul's hesitation, it was Jean who asked, "What are you thinking about, Master Paul? If you talk with us, we may be able to help."
Adopting a wry smile, Paul closed the lid of the chest as he explained, "I was just wondering if it was a wise decision to sink all of this gold into the Intersection of Fate. While I'm eager to acquire new allies and help each of you get stronger, I feel like it will completely derail my original plans..."
Since he had only ever discussed such plans with Zhongli, Paul exhaled a sigh before turning in the direction of the three girls and adding, "I'm just going to be honest with you. Before I gained access to the Intersection of Fate, my intentions for this world weren't entirely pure. There are people I intended to track down, befriend, and if the opportunity presented itself..."
Averting his eyes from Xiangling in particular, Paul muttered, "I intended to sleep with them..."
Surprised by Paul's revelation, Jean looked to Zhongli, asking, "Were you aware of this?" in a calm yet forceful tone.
Nodding her head in affirmation, Zhongli answered, "Indeed. However, if you listened till the end, you would discover that Master Paul's intentions were not as impure as he makes them out to be. Our Master intended to track down the companions of his original self to ensure their fates were not worsened as a result of his presence in this world. Sleeping with them was never his primary objective; it was merely something our Master took into consideration when he was planning his future."
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Jean looked towards Paul, an sincerely apologetic expression on her face as she bowed her head and stated, "I owe you an apology. I should not have assumed the worst..."
Raising his hands, Paul shook his head and said, "No, you're not wrong. I mean, Zhongli isn't lying, but...well...it's complicated..."
Scratching the back of his head, Paul contemplated how best to convey his point. In his stead, Zhongli attempted to explain, "Our Master intends to track down six people, each an outcast in their respective tribes. The first is a woman named Ghislaine. Without-"
Raising his hand, Paul interrupted Zhongli's explanation, saying, "I have it all recorded in a journal. It's best not to discuss this type of thing aloud..."
As Zhongli adopted a faint smile and nodded her head, Paul regained a bit of composure, explaining, "All that really matters is that I intend to set out on a journey shortly after my twelfth birthday. If we acquire a lot of allies, I fear I may be too distracted with planning and other matters to focus on my training. I'm also concerned that certain people from your world might not be all that enthused about being summoned as a child..."
Though being summoned as children gave them more time to train, Paul couldn't imagine a female version of Diluc or Xiao being happy with such an arrangement. At the very least, Paul would hate having to go through puberty as a girl and experiencing what it was like to have a period...
Speaking out in the silence that followed Paul's statement, Zhongli stated, "While I can understand your apprehensions, I believe they are baseless. You seem to be under the impression you need to interact and get along with the people you summon through the Intersection of Fate personally. In actuality, you are free to travel, team up with, and generally do as you please. You appear to have forgotten this, but you have the authority to tell anyone that has accepted the Gods' Contract what to do. If you gave us the order to attack an enemy or venture to the other side of the world, we would have no choice but to comply."
Blinking in surprise, Paul could feel a nervous tremor building from his abdomen as he asked, "What do you mean?"
Squinting her eyes and crossing her arms, Zhongli's voice became even more resonant than usual as she said, "You are well aware of the meaning within my words. I suspect you have been since our first conversation."
Unable to meet the gazes of the three girls staring at him, Paul hung his head, his voice barely a whisper as he said, "It isn't right..."
As Zhongli had implied, Paul understood how much power he possessed ever since they first 'discussed terms.' Simply put, anyone he summoned through the Intersection of Fate had no choice but to obey him. It didn't matter if he ordered them to their deaths or commanded them to gratify him sexually. His orders were, very nearly, absolute.
Instead of refuting Paul's words, Zhongli nodded her head, saying, "That may be. However, for the sake of our restoring our world, each of us has agreed to obey the Champion. You need not make use of your authority, but you should not forget it exists. As for whether or not you should make use of the Intersection of Fate...well, let me ask you this. Do you think you can reach a level that exceeds even we Archons on your own...?"
Though he would like to pretend like he had some kind of plot armor that would allow him to exceed even the Gods if he worked hard, Paul wasn't so naive. Even with the means to increase his Mana pool, the odds of him exceeding the Rank of King in Magic or Swordsmanship were slim. A mere week of training with Jean had proven that...
"So what? I sit back and let everyone else do all the heavy lifting while I indulge myself in carnal pleasure...?"
Losing her composure for the first time since Paul had known her, Zhongli exhaled a sigh, hand caressing her forehead as she groaned, "Our Master really knows how to see the worst in every situation..."
Shaking her head, Zhongli quickly regained her impassive expression as she answered, "The important thing is that you're doing what you 'want' to do, not what you think you 'need' to do. If you want to go on a journey, then do so. You need not dedicate your entire life to our cause. By merely staying alive and summoning us into this world, you are supplying us with the means to help ourselves. It is for that reason we serve you. If not for your efforts, we simply wouldn't exist."
Hanging his head a third time, Paul's expression revealed a deeply rooted melancholy. Before he could wallow in self-doubt or depression, however, Xiangling surprised him with a hug.
"Xiangling...?"
While squeezing Paul with as much strength as her slender arms could manage, Xiangling said, "You're a good person, Paul. Though I don't agree with all the things Zhongli said, there is one thing I do know. You deserve to be happy. Please stop making such a scary expression...okay?"
Since he couldn't see his own face, Paul could only assume his furrowed brows and pessimistic gaze appeared scary. Fortunately, Xiangling's hug made him feel a lot better. She was a lot softer than he expected, but the thing he noticed more than anything else was the warmth that seemed to radiate from the very core of her being.
Reciprocating the petite blunette's embrace, Paul's expression and tone softened as he muttered, "Sorry..." before following it with a sincere, "And thank you..."
...
..
.
After calming down and discussing the matter with a less negative point of view, Paul ultimately reached a similar conclusion as Zhongli. While not exactly baseless, most of his concerns were rendered invalid by the many benefits that came from accessing the Intersection of Fate.
One of the things that had slipped Paul's mind was his mother's chronic illness. She wasn't bedridden, but she would generally spend upwards of ten hours a day resting in her room or in the garden his father had built for her.
If Paul were able to summon someone like Albedo or Sucrose, they would be able to treat his mother's illness with relative ease. If he told him what he knew about things like Penicillin, they might even be able to introduce Antibiotics into the world of Mushoku Tensei. Either way, Paul would only benefit from their presence.
For that, and several other reasons, Paul waited until nightfall before he, Zhongli, Xiangling, and Jean entered the Intersection of Fate. He had no intention of using all 70,000 Asura Gold Coins, but he figured he could at least roll until he had seven allies, a 5-Star Weapon, or achieved 'pity' at 90 consecutive rolls.
Starting things off, Paul was pleasantly surprised to see the first set of meteors transition into a deep shade of purple before splitting off. Even a 4-Star Weapon would be an absolute win in his book, so he was looking forward to seeing what popped out.
What Paul never expected was for Xinyan, one of the most beloved and hated characters in all of Genshin Impact, to appear.
"Alright~! Let's get this party started...!"
Though she currently resembled a six-year-old girl with a black, red, and white maid outfit, Xinyan struck a pose and held up her hand in the almost universal symbol for rock-and-roll. She had basically pioneered the genre back in her world, but what made her stand out was her dark skin and the overall 'wild' vibe she gave off due to her fiery amber eyes and her stylish yet flame-like twin-tails.&nbsp;
Suppressing his shock, Paul adopted a friendly smile as he crossed his hand over his chest and said, "Welcome to the world of Mushoku Tensei, Xinyan. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Sizing Paul up, a somewhat 'scary' smile developed across Xinyan's face until she realized he wasn't the only one who looked like a child.&nbsp;
"Well, that's no fun. Didn't think I'd plop into this world as a brat..."
Shaking away her disappointment, Xinyan returned her gaze to Paul, hand raised in a friendly gesture as she replied, "Yo. You must be Paul. Nice to meetcha. The name's Xinyan, but you apparently already knew that."
Maintaining his smile, albeit with a bit of difficulty, Paul nodded his head, explaining, "Back in my previous world, when I believed you were just a game character, I managed to get you to Max Constellation. I'm not sure how your particular style will mesh with this world, but I would be lying if I said it couldn't use a musical renaissance. Dancing to the same handful of tunes has gotten old..."
A little surprised by Paul's words, Xinyan remarked, "Wow, you must have really liked my character if you managed to awaken all my Constellations. You're making me blush."
Though her face didn't have so much as a hint of a blush, Xinyan cupped her cheeks and pretended like she was a bashful maiden. Paul's lack of a reaction made her lose interest, however, so she stopped and asked, "So? What now...?"

"I'm going to continue summoning until I obtain a 5-Star or reach pity. For now, why don't you join the others?"
Prompted by Paul's suggestion, Xinyan looked past him to who else had joined their merry little band. When she saw Xiangling, her face lit up, but nowhere near as much as when she spotted Zhongli.
"Xiangling! And is that Zhongli? You make a pretty find girl, don'tcha?"
While Xiangling returned a happy smile, answering, "It's good to see you, Xinyan." Zhongli just crossed her arms with an ostensibly smug expression on her face. She wasn't a particularly vain person, but she did agree with Xinyan's assessment; her feminine form was rather appealing.
With Xinyan walking over to join the others, Paul began slotting more gold into the tiny groove above the handprints. Then, once ten Acquaint Fates had manifested, he shouted, "Confirm!" in a voice that drew the attention of all four girls.
Similar to when Xinyan had been summoned, the meteors quickly gained a purple hue to them. This brought an even wider smile to Paul's face, as, thus far, none of his 'rolls' had been duds. He knew this wouldn't always be the case, so he was happy his fortunes were holding up.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, the purple meteor split into ten smaller comets before slamming into the center of the platform. Paul's smile was essentially pulling his face when he noticed two purple comets, but the indisputably most excited person present was Xiangling.
"Yaoyao~!"
Without waiting for the petite, chestnut-haired girl standing in the middle of the platform to get her bearings, Xiangling ran over, literally picking her up and spinning her around as she happily exclaimed, "I can't believe you were the one who got summoned! And look, we're nearly the same size~!"
Though she was a little disoriented due to Xiangling's actions, the dainty girl with oversized bells in her hair quickly returned a smile, replying, "It's good to see you, Xiangling." in a markedly calmer tone.
Releasing Yaoyao from her stranglehold, Xiangling gave her good friend and junior disciple a once-over before grabbing her hand, turning to Paul, and saying, "This is Yaoyao. We both apprenticed under the same Master before she went on to become the Attendant of Lady Ganyu. If you don't mind, can I be the one to introduce her to this world?"
Before Paul could answer, it was Yaoyao who exhaled a sigh and said, "Xiangling, while I appreciate your concerns, I am no longer the young girl you used to drag around by the hand. I was the Chief Attendant of Liyue's Emissary. If I could take care of an Adeptus like Lady Ganyu, Master Paul should not be a problem."
Pulling her hand free from Xiangling's, Yaoyao performed a formal curtsy, head lowered in the direction of Paul as she calmly stated, "Yaoyao greets her Master."
Gesturing for Yaoyao to rise, Paul's expression revealed a hint of concern as he said, "Your courtesy is both acknowledged and greatly appreciated. However, I am in agreement with Xiangling on this matter. While I will not forbid you from performing your duties as a Maid, I think it would be best if the two of you spent time together..."
Adopting a pouty expression, Yaoyao explained, "Xiangling is only twenty months older than I am. And back when we were apprenticing under the same Master, it was always me trying to keep her out of trouble..."
Shaking his head, Paul said, "I don't doubt that in the slightest. It's just; I would feel considerably less concerned if you stuck together. Not for you, but both of you."
Exhaling a sigh, Yaoyoa answered, "Very well..." before looking towards the almost bereaved-looking Xiangling and asking, "What's wrong?" in an audibly concerned tone. In response, Xiangling just shook her head and said, "It's nothing important. I was just a little hurt that you didn't want to spend time with me."
"..."
Resisting the urge to exhale yet another sigh, Yaoyao grabbed Xiangling's hand and said, "You know that wasn't my intention, Xiangling. I just don't like being treated as a child."
Though she nodded her head in understanding, Xiangling effectively shot herself in the foot by saying, "But you are a child."
"..."
Willfully ignoring Xiangling's remark, Yaoyao directed a polite nod towards Paul before pulling her 'senior' off to the side. She got the impression that she and Xiangling were in the way, and she didn't want her new Master to think she was incapable of reading the room.
After following the duo with his eyes, Paul returned his gaze to the front. Yaoyao wasn't the only prize he had obtained. A glossy black sword with a red line running down its center could be seen emanating a pale purple light among the seventeen other weapons present. Its guard resembled a dragon's face or some kind of helmet, complete with red eyes that glowed with malicious, bloody light.
Picking up the surprisingly light sword, Paul gave it a few practice swings before remarking, "This is a good blade..."
Supplementing Paul's statement, Zhongli explained, "The Black Sword, a cursed weapon that thirsts for blood and leads even the purest of hearts astray. While it is known to increase the power of attacks and regenerate its user with the blood of his enemies, it is a perilous weapon in the hands of mortals..."
Raising his brows, Paul questioned, "Are you saying this sword can make people evil? That certainly wasn't a feature in the game..."
Refuting Paul's words, Zhongli said, "Good and evil are subjective. While The Black Blade invariably leads its wielder down a path of slaughter, it is the nature of all blades to cut down their enemies. So long as you wield it responsibly, you need not fear The Black Blade's corruption."
Nodding his head in implied understanding, Paul summoned his previous weapon before synching The Black Black with his Vision. As terrifying as the notion of a cursed sword was, a blade that dealt increased damage and healed its user was a tremendous advantage in a situation where his life was on the line.
Once the synchronization process had finished, Paul asked for the girls' help clearing out the other weapons before continuing his Gacha spree. He immediately regretted this when his next four 10-pulls were all misses but soon forgot about them when the fifth meteor turned a vibrant shade of purple.
Though he was initially stoked by the prospect of obtaining a new ally or weapon, Paul became visibly confused when a young girl with dark blue hair and amber eyes appeared wearing a dark-blue Maid outfit appeared. He could tell she was a Hydro(Water) user based on the patterns sewn into her apron and headdress, but he didn't recognize her as a character from Genshin.
Once again, it was Xiangling who broke the silence, asking, "Xingqiu...is that you?" in a tentative tone.
Thought the blue-haired girl nodded in response to Xiangling's question, her attention was focused on Paul as she asked, Are you, perchance, my new Master, Paul Notos Greyrat?"
Seeing Paul nod his head in affirmation, the boyish-looking girl performed a flawless curtsy as she said, "My name is Xingqiu. In my previous world, I was the Second Son of the Feiyun Commerce Guild's Guild Manager. In this world, I am your humble servant. If there is anything you need of me, please do not hesitate to ask."
Realizing that the diminutive girl before him was one of the genderbent characters he had been dreading to summon, Paul responded with a soft, "Right..." before asking, "How do you feel? Any...discomfort...?"
Tilting her head to the side, Xingqiu asked, "I'm afraid I don't understand the reason for Master Paul's concerns. Am I injured somewhere...?"
Giving her body a once-over, Xinqiu quickly realized what Paul was asking about when she noticed the drastic differences in her form. When she did, an uncannily bashful smile developed across her face as she said, "It will undoubtedly take some getting used to, but I had prepared myself for this outcome when I signed the contract. If there is one thing I might request, it's that you wait until I'm a bit older before-"
Before Xingqiu could finish her appeal, she was promptly dragged off to the side by Xiangling and Yaoyao. They didn't know exactly what she was going to request, but it didn't take a virtuoso to surmise it was something lewd.
Though she was more than a little confused by Xiangling's and Yaoyao's actions, Xingqiu didn't resist. She just assumed they were following Paul's orders and allowed herself to be dragged over to where the others were waiting. She attempted to greet Zhongli, Xinyan, and Jean there but was ultimately hindered when Xiangling dragged her further away to whisper something into her ear.
Exhaling a tired sigh, Paul briefly considered praying to the RNG gods that he didn't pull another genderbent character. Unfortunately, even thinking such thoughts drastically increased the odds of such an event happening, a fact Paul was promptly reminded of when the next 10-Pull shifted to a purple hue and impacted the platform.
"Oh? Is it time for the main character to make an appearance...?"
Seeing a petite figure with dark-blue hair, bronzed skin, hazy blue eyes, and an eye patch emerge from within the purple light, Pual's expression became solemn. Even if he was genderbent, Paul immediately recognized the mischievous-looking girl, muttering, "Kaeya..." in a deflated tone.
"Hmmm~?"
Hearing Paul mutter her name, Kaeya gave him a quick once over before looking down and giving her body the same. A curious glimmer promptly appeared in her singular, uncovered eye as she said, "One sec...I need to check something..." before turning around with her back facing Paul and the rest.
Before Paul could ask what Kaeya was up to, his expression became even gloomier when the chocolate girl hiked up the front of her dark-blue Maid outfit, stretched the band of her white hose, and remarked, "Farewell, my brother..." before adding a cheeky, "Helly, little kitty..."
Preventing Kaeya from examining her new form even further, Jean threw her wooden sword so that the pommel impacted the former's head. Kaeya was immediately knocked unconscious by the blow, faceplanting into the ground as Jean walked over with a furious blush on her face and said, "I'll take care of this idiot..." before hastily dragging the unconscious blunette away.
"..."
Deciding to entrust the matter to Jean, Paul returned his attention to the stone dais in a vain attempt to forget he had summoned one of the more troublesome characters in the game. Kaeya wasn't a bad person, but he, now she, was the type that got off on teasing and messing around with others. Paul couldn't even imagine the number of headaches her former self had caused Jean. Now, mere weeks after she was finally 'free' of her tormentor, Jean and Kaeya had been reunited. Paul legitimately felt sorry for them both...
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Paul muttered, "Time to find out if Pity is a thing..."
Back in the original Genshin Impact, players that had failed to get a 5-Star within 90 Rolls were guaranteed to get one on their ninetieth roll. Before the start of his spree, the last person Paul summoned had been the 5-Star Jean. Since then, he had performed eight consecutive 10-Pulls, so if the Pity System did exist, he was guaranteed to get a 5-Star on the next one.
Rubbing his hands together, Paul silently whispered, "Come on, Albedo or Ganyu..." in a hopeful tone. He had already gotten Jean, so if he could get Ganyu, Paul would have all pulled both of his favorite female characters in short order. Hopefully, Yaoyao's appearance was a precursor to obtaining the loveably awkward Qilin girl...
Seeing the meteor shift from pale blue to a luminous shade of gold, Paul couldn't help leaping to his feet and shouting, "Come on...!" with a scary look in his eyes. He was like a gambler that had just placed his house on the line in one last bet. It was a very apt comparison considering that 90 pulls were equivalent to $9,000,000 back in his previous world.
Shielding his eyes to block the shockwave that occurred when the golden comet impacted the central platform, Paul was momentarily unable to see the form of the person that had appeared. Despite this, he instantly knew who it was as a soft yet cold voice asked, "Are you the one who will help me reclaim Eternity...?"

After what felt like the longest and shortest eleven days of his life, Paul exited the comparably humid and aromatic interior of his coach, a smile developing across his face as he inhaled the crisp, frigid air outside.
Stepping down after Paul, even though they should have exited before him, Zhongli's, Xiangling's, and Jean's eyes wandered the frost-covered grounds of the estate. As horrendous as the culture of the Asura Kingdom was, the world of Mushoku Tensei was still a remarkably beautiful place.
Just as Xiangling was about to ask if they could explore, Jean drew her attention with a faint cough before inclining her head towards the rather buxom, luxuriously dressed woman hurrying towards them. Xiangling was a little confused at first but quickly fixed her posture when she noticed Jean and Zhongli standing ramrod straight with their hands crossed over their laps.
Knowing what was about to transpire, a wry yet genuine smile developed across Paul's face as the woman, his mother, raced over to embrace him. This meant having his face forced into her cleavage as she squeezed his head and whispered, "My beloved Little Sun. You finally returned to me..." in a tender, loving voice.
Nodding his head, Paul gave his mother a firm hug of his own, answering, "It's good to see you, Mother..." the moment she released her grip on his head.
Surprising Paul beyond measure, Valentine suddenly planted a chaste kiss on his lips. He knew it was meant to be a sign of affection, but it still made his body tense as Valentine tittered at his expense and remarked, "You're such a mature and conscientious young boy...tell me, is it these girls that forced you to mature so quickly? Oh my..."
Though she had heard about Zhongli and Xiangling through Paul's letters and the Headmistress's bi-weekly reports, Valentine was still surprised by their appearance and bearing. Xiangling still had a long way to go, but she was only five, maybe six years old. As for Jean, Valentine knew absolutely nothing about her. If she weren't wearing a Maid outfit and standing with the other two, she would have assumed the remarkably stoic-looking girl was the First Daughter of an Upper-Middle Noble House...
With Valentine acknowledging their presence, Zhongli and Jean offered polite bows. Xiangling quickly followed suit, but her movements were less refined than the other two. Not that Valentine minded; in truth, she found Xiangling's comparative clumsiness cute.
"You must be Zhongli, Xiangling, and...?"
Offering a flawless curtsy, Jean coolly replied, "My name is Jean, and it is a pleasure to behold your esteemed countenance, Lady Valentine."
Squinting her pale-green eyes, a playfully mischievous smile developed across Valentine's face as she asked, "Are you the one who made my little Paul a man...?"
Answering in Jean's stead, Paul's expression appeared helpless as he softly muttered, "Mother...please don't say such things. Zhongli, Xiangling, and Jean may be my Attendants, but they are also my trusted friends and companions. Once I have come of age, I intend to nominate each of them as my official Retainers."
"Hmmm..."
Though she could tell Paul was being serious, Valentine knew things that were bound to derail her son's plans. Rumors regarding the capabilities of Zhongli and Xiangling had already spread throughout the Milbots Region. During their most recent Audit, the Tax Official from the Silver Palace had even inquired about Zhongli directly. A five-year-old with Advanced Earth Magic and spearmanship exceeding even Intermediate users of the Water God Style wasn't something that went unnoticed.
Cupping her son's cheeks, Valentine's expression and tone softened as she said, "Things don't always go according to plan, Paul. To not have any regrets, make sure to live each day to the fullest. Even if you make terrible mistakes, it's better to follow your desires and be hated than lament what could have been..."
Punctuating her words, Valentine pulled Paul into another full-breasted hug. If it were up to her, she would send Paul someplace far away from the Asura Kingdom. He might be a prodigy, but he was far too kind and considerate for a Noble. As his reputation and achievements continued to increase, there would be no end to the number of people seeking to take advantage of him. First and foremost being the Royal Family...
Waiting until his mother had released him, Paul found it difficult to conceal the concern in his expression as he tentatively inquired, "Has something happened?"
Shaking her head, Valentine gave Paul's cheek one final caress, saying, "Not yet. I just want you to be prepared..." before rising to her feet and adding, "We should hurry along. Your Father has been waiting to speak with you."
Suppressing his sudden and intense urge to run away from home, Paul nodded his head, answering, "Understood." before accepting his mother's outstretched hand and allowing her to guide the way. It made him feel a little awkward, but he was still only five years old. If his mother wanted to lead him by the hand, Paul didn't have the leeway to refuse...
...
..
.
*tok* *tok* *tok*
"Father, it's me, Paul. I've returned."
Hearing his son's voice, a faint smile developed across Amarant's usually stern countenance before promptly vanishing as he answered, "Enter." in an authoritative tone.
Following his Father's command, Paul pulled open the thick, magically reinforced wooden door before stepping inside and offering a courteous bow as he said, "It pleases me to see you in good health, Father. I take it the harvest was good this year?"
Without rising from his desk, Amarant rhythmically tapped the top of his desk as he said, "Sit down, son. We will have plenty of time to discuss the affairs of the Region when you accompany me during the execution of my duties. From now on, whenever you return from the Academy, you will be shadowing me to learn how to manage the territory."
Understanding it wasn't a matter up for discussion, Paul just nodded his head before sitting in the seat his Father had prepared in advance. Under normal circumstances, no one else was allowed to sit in his Father's office. Even for Paul, this was a first.
Waiting until his son had finished getting adjusted, Amarant's expression hardened as he asked, "Paul...I'm asking you this as both your Father and your Lord. Where did those girls come from?"
Blinking in surprise, Paul opened his mouth to speak but found himself at a loss for words. He didn't know exactly what his Father had heard, but it was clear he wasn't going to accept the pretense that Xiangling and Jean had been acquired through the Slave Market. Zhongli's origins were a little easier to explain, but only if his Father believed he had somehow acquired a tool that allowed him to conjure Elemental Spirits.
Instead of immediately answering his Father's question, Paul asked, "Can I have a moment to compose myself...?"
Nodding his head in approval, Amarant linked his fingers together before closing his eyes and saying, "Very well..."
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Paul also closed his eyes in an attempt to block out other stimuli. He had a very important decision to make right now. He could attempt to deceive his Father, conceivably undermining the trust he had built over the years, or he could tell him a version of the truth. Having his Father's support was pivotal to his plans. However, if Hitogami were to realize his intentions, Amarant might be manipulated to become one of his greatest enemies. The wicked God had an aura that made all native-born humans believe anything he said, so revealing the truth was exceptionally dangerous...
Deciding on a compromise between the two, Paul opened his eyes and said, "I'm ready." in a firm and resolute tone.
Opening his eyes, Amarant kept his fingers linked together as he said, "Proceed." in his usual, authoritative tone.
"First and foremost, I have a question of my own. As one of the Four Great and Noble Houses, our family should be in possession of Truth Serum or a Truth-Telling Artifact, correct?"
Furrowing his brows and squinting his eyes, Amarant asked, "Do you mean to tell me you can't reveal the truth without such measures?"
Doing his best to appear confident, Paul answered, "Believe me, Father. I want to tell you the truth. However, doing so would place my life and the lives of everyone I care about at risk. That includes you, mother, and the inhabitants of the Milbots Region."
Closing his eyes, Amarant appeared to be considering Paul's words. To the latter's considerable surprise, however, he revealed, "The chair you are presently seated in serves a similar function. Were you to lie; it would cause you to experience a sudden and intense increase in pressure. Not enough to injure you, but enough to expose that you are lying..."
Though he couldn't help feeling a little betrayed, Paul nodded his head in understanding, asking, "Shall I demonstrate my previous words weren't a lie by telling a falsehood...?"
Instead of answering his son's question, Amarant opened his eyes and waited. Paul interpreted this as a silent agreement, stating, "I like girls with tiny chests."
As if a mountain had crashed into him from above, Paul found himself pressed to the chair with such force that the legs creaked beneath him. He didn't know if the pressure increased depending on the gravity of the lie, but he currently couldn't even breathe.
Seeing beads of sweat form on his son's forehead as he struggled to draw even a shallow breath, Amarant said, "I forgive your deceit."&nbsp;
Feeling the pressure disappear, Paul gasped for air as he reached for the edge of his Father's desk for support. In response, his Father said, "Take your time. Breathe..." in a faint yet audibly concerned voice.
As Paul did precisely that, his Father rose from his desk to grab a bottle of brown liquor and two glasses. There were no age restrictions on alcohol in the world of Mushoku Tensei, so Amarant didn't even hesitate to pour his son a small amount before filling his glass more than halfway.
Staring at the scotch-like liquid, Paul breathed a few steadying breaths before picking up the glass and downing the contents in a single go. His Father expected him to have a coughing fit, but, having been a rather avid drinker back when he was working as a Game Developer, Paul was used to the burn of much stronger drinks.
Exhaling a hot sigh, Paul muttered, "Thanks...that helped..." before fixing his posture and asking, "I trust that was enough proof? I'd rather not have to experience it again."
Losing a bit of his usual bearing, Amarant sampled the contents of his glass before leaning back in his chair and saying, "Proceed..." in a somber tone. He didn't know what his son was about to reveal, but it apparently jeopardized the lives of everyone in the Milbots Region. Assuming his son was telling the truth, that was more than enough justification for Amarant to dismiss with his usual facade.
Though he was a little surprised by his Father's behavior, Paul adopted a severe expression as he explained, "I cannot reveal the specifics, but I have gained a power comparable to the Armored Dragon King's ability to summon Ancient Spirits. Zhongli, Xiangling, and Jean are not slaves. They are my allies, people who have vowed to protect and fight alongside me."
Hearing Paul mention the Armored Dragon King, the being responsible for the current Era's name and dating system, Amarant's pupils shrank to the size of pinholes. If Paul was telling the truth, and he appeared to be, even revealing this much was incredibly dangerous. If the Royal Family learned of his ability, they would either force him to become a Consort of the First Princess or enslave him using one of their many mind-control artifacts...
Feeling that his glass wasn't nearly full enough, Amarant filled it to the brim, nearly spilling the contents of the bottle due to how shaky his hands had become. As loyal as he was to the Royal Family, he would never allow them to take away his son. Things might have been different if Paul were ordinary, but he was so far beyond exceptional that Amarant couldn't help feeling as though his son were fated for something great. He couldn't just throw him to the wolves...
Downing nearly the entire contents of his 12oz glass in a series of large gulps, Amarant ignored the sudden feeling of weight that had descended on his mind, his expression and voice firm as he demanded, "Tell me what you need."

Chapter 19: MI19: Responsibility