Mushoku Impact

With little else to do with the time his father had given him, Paul split his time between training, practicing with his newly acquired Vision, reading the texts in his library, and speaking with his mother.
As tempted as he was to take the week off, Paul reasoned he wouldn't have much time to train while traveling with his father. With that in mind, he focused purely on swordsmanship between the hours of 3 and 7 AM. After that, he would eat before spending the period between breakfast and lunch reading or conversing with his summons.
Though Zhongli had continued to reinforce the notion that he didn't need to be actively involved with the lives of everyone he summoned, Paul felt it was his duty to at least try. It might not matter to some of them, but for girls like Xiangling, Paul could tell his efforts meant a lot to her.
Once lunch had finished, Paul would spend the first half of his afternoon conversing with his mother. He was trying to figure out exactly what was wrong with her, but, as far as he could tell from the tidbits she gave here and there, it was a sickness that had plagued her since childhood. Even if he knew the exact name of her condition, there was very little he could do about it at the present moment.
Fortunately, though their interactions often left Paul feeling as though he wanted to crawl into a hole and hide, Valentine seemed to enjoy spending time with Jean, Ei, and anyone else he brought by. She had initially taken an interest in their beautiful and exotic appearances, but, upon getting to know them better, she quickly realized the actual dynamic between Paul and his summons. Since then, Paul had 'suffered' quite a bit as a result of his mother's teasing.
With his mother having more people to converse and spend time with, Valentine's health improved drastically. She was far from healthy, but it was clear to everyone within the estate that she was happier, healthier, and far more energetic. So much so that Paul's father ended up delaying their trip a few days so he could spend more 'quality time' with his wife...
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"Still can't look directly at me...?"
After another hard day of training and self-study, Xinyan was helping Paul clean himself in the bath. It was a little excessive, but Paul would take up to three 'baths' per day. His status as a member of House Notos meant he had an actual bath, but, more often than not, he just suffered in silence as the girls wiped him down in his bedroom or his family's sauna.
Answering in Paul's stead, Ei cooly asserted, "Master Paul is a man of high morals. You should not test him so..."
Since they were prohibited from using the bath on their own, most of the girls in Paul's entourage would take turns attending him. Most had enough sense to cover themselves with thick towels, but Xinyan had always been a free-spirited girl. Since they would be spending the next twenty, thirty, or even more years together, she didn't see any reason to act bashfully in Paul's presence.
Ignoring Ei's remark, Xinyan continued scrubbing Paul's back without so much as a single covering. Her bronzed skin glistened in the low light of the humid chamber, but Paul was largely unaware of this. As a matter of principle, he spent nearly the entire bath with his eyes closed.
"While I don't exactly agree with a lot of what Zhongli puts out, I do think you're a little too sensitive. If me being naked makes you uncomfortable, you should just come out and say it. You don't need to sit here and silently accept everything, you know?"
Exhaling a sigh, Paul kept his eyes closed as he softly replied, "You're all going through a lot as is. The destruction of your world, the existence of a contract that forces you to obey someone you've never met, and a set of circumstances that forced you to effectively reincarnate as children. I just don't want to cause you any additional stress..."
Adopting a faint blush, Xinyan muttered, "Ei wasn't wrong...you really are a good person, Paul..."
Punctuating her words, Xinyan gave Paul a light smack on his back before rising to her feet and saying, "This place is starting to get a little too stuffy for my tastes. I'll leave the rest to you three."
Though they had been sitting in relative silence, Jean, Xiangling, and even Yaoyao were present within the bath. In response to Xinyan's words, Jean answered, "Leave it to me." before rising from her wooden bath stool and retrieving a fresh towel. Xiangling and Yaoyao looked like they wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent as they had been helping Ei clean herself.
As skillful as she was with the sword, Ei was fundamentally incapable of doing much else...
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"Do you not intend to take the others...?"
Seeing only Xingqiu, Jean, and Zhongli accompanying his son, Amarant couldn't help wondering where the rest of Paul's 'Familiars' were.
"Traveling with a large entourage will only draw unnecessary attention to myself. While I have no intentions of lying low, I know better than to stick my neck out and show my hand."
"Mmm...very good."
Nodding his head in approval, Amarant was more sure than ever that Paul was the best heir he could have hoped for. He was only a few weeks from his sixth birthday, but he already had the disposition of an adult. It was a little jarring at times, but Amarant was exceedingly satisfied with his son's growth...
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As Paul had expected, traveling alongside his father was an exceptionally mundane affair. His father had insisted they ride in the same carriage, but instead of using it as an opportunity to confer his wisdom, Amarant would spend most of the trip sitting in silence or sleeping. Paul had tried to make conversation initially, but the only interests he and his father shared were their general preferences in women.
Fortunately, while the carriage rides were almost unbearable, things got a little easier once Paul and Amarant reached their destination. The families they visited spared no expense to welcome and accommodate them. Paul was inconvenienced by having to entertain their children, but his standing and maturity compelled even the more profligate members of the younger generation to be on their best behavior when he was around.
If there was one thing Paul could complain about, it was the unconcealed interest every single House had in Zhongli, Jean, and Xingqiu. After a visit with one of the more affluent households in the region, his father revealed they had offered a startling 10,000 Asura Gold Pieces to purchase Zhongli and Jean. That was the equivalent of purchasing two Saint-Ranked Mages or five Saint-Ranked Swordsmen that had sold themselves into slavery to pay their debts.
Increasing Paul's feelings of frustration, Amarant speculated that it was very likely the 10,000 Gold had been set aside to purchase Zhongli alone. In other words, the family had simply lumped Jean into the exchange at the last moment. She had yet to gain a reputation for herself, but even a fool could tell she would mature into a breathtakingly beautiful woman.
Fortunately, the standing of House Notos placed them in a situation to dictate the terms of virtually any agreement. Amarant used the family's attempt to procure Jean as a 'bonus' to accuse them of disrespecting a Greater Noble House. He didn't pursue the matter, but the allegation was more than enough to compel the other family to both withdraw their offer and provide compensation.
Unfortunately, no matter how powerful the Notos Family was, they were still subordinate to the Royal Family. Amarant warned Paul that rumors of Zhongli's prowess had long since reached the ears of people in the Silver Palace. They were unlikely to take proactive measures to secure her, but Paul would need to be cautious if he visited the Capital. Due to Zhongli's perceived status as a servant, members of the Royal Family could simply requisition her on the grounds that any servant of their affiliate was also a servant of the Royal Family.
Though Paul had no intention of visiting the Royal Capital, it was only a matter of time before he received a summons. Zhongli's results may have exceeded his, but it was still 'common knowledge' that the Heir of House Notos was a prodigy. Unless he spontaneously started acting his age and performing poorly, the King would eventually want to meet and commend him. There was no way the Royal Family would simply ignore the presence of a genius 'lurking' about in the frontier regions...
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After nearly four weeks of traveling, Paul and his father had reached the southernmost territory of the Milbots Region, a neutral commerce town jointly governed by Houses Notos and Eurus.
As a town bordering two regions, the Free City of Roak was one of the most prosperous townships in the Asura Kingdom. It was home to many merchant guilds, sword schools, and, more importantly, the fourth-largest Adventurer's Guild in the entire world.
Though many of the towns they had passed through had smaller Guild offices, the Adventurer's Guild in Roak was nearly the size of the Local Lord's Estate. Roak's status as a Free City meant they were responsible for providing their own security, so the Adventurer's Guild looked more like a small fortress than a large tavern.
Unfortunately, with very few exceptions, people needed to be at least ten years of age to join the Adventurer's Guild. Paul was tempted to check it out but ultimately decided against it since it would only draw attention to himself, Jean, Zhongli, and Xingqiu. Instead, he just loitered around the Local Lord's Estate as he and his father awaited the arrival of the Wishiru Region's Lord Eurus. At the very least, that's what Paul intended to do.
"You shouldn't stay cooped up inside all day. I understand your desire to train and expand your knowledge, but there are some things only life can teach you."
Suppressing a sigh, Paul met his father's gaze and explained, "It's not that I don't want to explore; I simply wish to avoid placing myself in precarious situations before I have the strength to protect myself..."
Making no effort to suppress his own sigh, Amarant pinched the bridge of his nose as he said, "Be that as it may, there are some things you can only experience during childhood. After observing you these past few weeks, I have begun to doubt whether or not you possess friends outside the girls you've summoned..."
"..."
Seeing his son avert his eyes, a second sigh escaped Amarant's throat as he muttered, "I suspected as much..."
Rising to his feet, Amarant's expression and tone became stern as he said, "Come with me. There is a famous Water God Dojo located nearby. If the rumors are to be believed, the head instructor is a man who apprenticed under the previous Water God. He should have some students capable of giving you and your aspiring Knight a challenge..."
Shifting his attention to Jean, Amarant offered an approving nod when the perpetually stoic swordswoman supplied a shallow yet courteous bow. He had absolutely no complaints about Jean's disposition or character. Were it not for the fact she was a Summoned Familiar, Amarant wouldn't object even if Paul asked for support to take Jean as his wife. Instead, the young swordswoman appeared determined to become his Knight...
Realizing his father's mind was already made up, Paul offered a courteous bow of his own, answering, "I understand..." in an exhausted tone. He was actually looking forward to seeing the capabilities of a former Water God's apprentice. What bothered him was the remarkably high probability of him and Jean being forced to fight progressively stronger opponents. In other words, it was only a matter of time before he was left beaten and fatigued on the sidelines while Jean fought opponents he wouldn't even be able to touch at his current level. If Zhongli and Xingqiu got involved, Paul would be shown up by all three of his subordinates...
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Heralded by his father and several of his most trusted bodyguards, Paul, Zhongli, Jean, and Xinqiu found themselves outside a two-story building that looked more like a house than a sword dojo. There was a small annex attached to the side, but there were currently no students to be seen.
"Hmmm...strange. I could have sworn this was the place..."
Turning to his Bodyguard, a Saint-Ranked practitioner of the Sword God School named Earhart, Amarant questioned, "Are you certain this is the place?"
Bowing his head respectfully, Earhart answered, "I am absolutely sure, my Lord. My esquire personally dined with Sword King Augusta and his family on the eve my Lord's arrival in the city."
"I see..."
Trusting Earhart's information, Amarant took the initiative to step up and knock on the door of Augusta's home. Unless they were criminals, Sword Kings had status exceeding even Royal Knights. Amarant would not lower himself even by personally knocking on one's door.
Instead of the burly, middle-aged man that Amarant was expected, the person who answered the door was an attractive and voluptuous young woman with scarlet hair and amethyst eyes. Amarant's eyes instinctually gravitated towards the woman's ample bosom, but only for the briefest of moments before saying, "I am Amarant Notos Greyrat, Lord of the Milbots Region. Please inform the master of the house that I have brought my son and his companions for a demonstration."
Though she was more than a little surprised by Amarant's introduction, the scarlet beauty managed to appear calm as she folded her hands over her lap, lowered her head, and replied, "My husband went to the Market with our daughter. If it pleases the Lord, you and your entourage are free to enter. I will put on some tea."
While Roak was a Free City, it was still a part of the Kingdom of Asura. If a high-ranking Noble were to show up at someone's house, the option of turning them didn't exist.
"Very good. We'll take you up on your offer, Mrs...?"
"Flute. My name is Flute."
Hearing the woman introduce herself without a family name, Amarant, very briefly, regretted bringing his son along. He was feeling more than a little pent up after several weeks on the road. He had relieved himself at several points along the way, but Flute's appearance was perfectly suited to his tastes. If she wasn't married to a Sword King, he might have tried to purchase her on the spot.
After ordering his men to stay outside and create a cordon, Amarant had Paul, Zhongli, Jean, and Xingqiu enter alongside him. Flute guided them to the dining room, but before she could transition to the kitchen to prepare tea, Amarant caused her to tense as he asked, "You mentioned you had a daughter? How old is she...?"
Though it was only for a brief moment, Flute's mask of calm cracked as she tentatively replied, "She will be turning six in the next two months..."
Raising his brows, Amarant uttered a curious, "Is that so?" before taking the seat at the head of the rectangular table.
With her back turned to Amarant and the rest, Flute formed her hands into loose fists as she bit her bottom lip. This wasn't the first time a Noble had expressed an interest in her daughter, but Amarant's status was such that they wouldn't be able to refuse a requisition offer...
Seeing Flute retreat to the kitchen, Paul couldn't help furrowing his brows as he muttered, "Father...even if it's within your power as a Lord, it doesn't seem right to insinuate you might separate a mother and child..."
Though he expected his son's words, an exasperated sigh escaped Amarant's throat before he closed his eyes and took a few moments to organize his thoughts. When he had, he opened his eyes and explained, "Even if the lass is inordinately skilled in swordsmanship, her status as a peasant places her in a precarious position. If she is half as striking as her mother, she will invariably be forced to become someone's servant. If she takes after her father, she will be assigned to safeguard a Noblewoman or recruited to serve in the Palace of Concubines. Her status as the daughter of a Sword King virtually guarantees it..."
Similar to Flute, Paul couldn't help balling his hands into fists. However, instead of biting his lip, he hung his head with an indignant expression on his face...
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Returning a few minutes after her departure, Flute skillfully poured tea for Amarant and Paul as she said, " Forgive my late return. The magic crystal within our stove has been slow to heat as of late..."
With Flute bending over next to him, Amarant's eyes once again fell to her breasts as he hummed a terse, "I see..." before removing the ring from his left pinky finger and dropping it into his cup. It couldn't detect the poison specially concocted to kill members of the Royal Family, but it would emit bubbles if placed into liquids laced with toxic chemicals.
Though she briefly tensed due to Amarant's actions, Flute exhaled a soft sigh when the ring didn't produce any bubbles. Nobles were infamous for using fake versions of the ring to pressure people they intended to extort.
Nodding his head in approval, Amarant sampled his tea while Flute stood off to the side like a trained servant. Before she married her husband, she had spent eight years working for the Local Lord and his family. Such was the fate of most beautiful young women once they reached the age of 10. In exchange, they would receive a 'severance pay' between 10-20 Asura Gold Coins, enough money to support themselves or function as a dowry payment.
Like Amarant, Flute knew it was only a matter of time before her daughter ended up in a similar position as herself. It was just the way things were in the Asura Kingdom, so, while Amarant was silently enjoying his tea, Flute was directing periodic glances towards Paul and the trio of girls standing behind him. She didn't know if it was because Paul was the son of a Lord, but his servants had excellent dispositions and notably expensive-looking clothes.
As Flute was convincing herself that House Notos was far from the worst place her daughter could end up, the sound of the front door opening and closing reached the dining room. Soon after that, a tall and burly man with similarly scarlet hair and a stylish goatee appeared with a wicker basket in hand. Following closely behind was a very young girl whose height barely reached past his waist. She had the same scarlet hair and amethyst eyes as both of her parents. However, while that prompted many questions, it was the two small yet present mounds on the front of the girl's chest that regularly garnered people's attention.
"Hoooo-? It's been quite some time since I hosted a Regional Lord. I trust my wife has been nothing but courteous to you...?"
Though the soldiers outside had confiscated his sword, the scarlet-haired man radiated an aura that caused everyone in the room, sans Zhongli and the little girl hiding behind his leg, to tense. The rugged-looking man took notice of this peculiarity but elected to maintain focus on the middle-aged man sipping tea in his seat.
Maintaining his bearing despite the swordsman's aura, Amarant remained seated as he asked, "Sword King Augusta, I presume? You don't strike me as someone skilled in the Water God School. If anything, I would assume you belonged to the Sword God School..."
Despite his attempts to suppress it, a faint scoff emanated from Augusta's throat. He was tempted to ask what a 'mere Lord' knew of the Water and Sword God Styles, but Amarant's status was considerably higher than the average Noble's. He could effortlessly kill such a man, but it would cost much more than just his own life. Everyone even distantly related to him would be massacred, or worse, as an example.
"My disposition has changed rather drastically since my retirement. I have not upheld my title as King in many years. These days, people just call me Instructor Augusta."
"I see..."
Rising to his feet, Amarant adopted a 'casual' stance with his right hand on his as he explained, "I had hoped you could demonstrate some of your skills for my son and his companions. My son has nearly stepped into the Intermediate Rank of the Water God Style despite his adolescent age. As for his companions...this young lady here has demonstrated the ability to contend with Advanced-Ranked Swordsmen of both the Sword and Water God Styles..."
Though Augusta was moderately surprised to hear Paul was nearly at the Intermediate Rank, his eyes visibly widened when Amarant inferred that Zhongli could match swordsmen of the Advanced Rank. Even if she was a Half-Demon that aged slower than a Human, it was unheard of for such a small girl to possess such tremendous power. It wasn't like she could just hide additional muscles within her thin arms and legs.
"You mean to tell me this brat is nearing the Rank of a Saint? Just how old is she...?"
Had he not been made aware of Zhongli's true identity, Amarant might not have believed his own words. Thus, rather than take offense to Augusta's words, he nodded his head and explained, "She is presently six years old. As for the integrity of my words, I had hoped to demonstrate the truth by having my son and his companions compete against your students."
"Ah..."
Scratching the back of his head, Augusta's expression became awkward as he revealed, "I have my students complete commissions with the Guild to gain combat experience and accrue funds. They recently departed on a C-Rank Escort Mission. If everything goes well, they should return in two to three weeks."
Though he narrowed his eyes in dissatisfaction, Amarant didn't condemn Augusta for failing to anticipate his arrival. It wasn't exactly common for a Regional Lord to make house visits. If he weren't concerned about his son having no friends his age, he would not have imposed upon Augusta and his family.
"It would appear our timing was less than ideal. Unfortunate..."
Since it didn't look like his son would have the chance to demonstrate his skills, Amarant shifted his gaze to the young girl hiding behind Augusta's leg, asking, "Is that your daughter? Despite her young age, it can be seen that she takes after her mother..."
Adopting a smile that failed to reach his eyes, Augusta answered, "Yeah. Her name's Lilia. Her skill with the sword is sub-par, but she's pretty sharp for her age..."
Before his father could respond, Paul suddenly interposed himself into the discussion; his expression marred with disbelief as he parroted, "Lilia? Did you just say your daughter's name was Lilia...?"
Though Paul was the son of a Lord, Augusta couldn't help furrowing his brows when he heard the youth speaking out of turn. In spite of this, he dared not lambast Paul in front of his father. Instead, he answered with an annoyed, "Yeah, what of it? Got a problem with my naming sense, br-"
Stopping himself before he could call Paul a brat, Augusta stepped aside before giving his daughter a push forward and saying, "Introduce yourself the way your mother taught you."
"Huh? Ah, uh...please wait a moment..."
Setting down the basket she had been carrying, Lilia took a moment to smooth out some of the wrinkles in her dress before folding her hands over her lap in a way that squashed her developing breasts between her arms. Then, with an ostensibly emotionless expression on her face, she lowered her head and body nearly forty degrees as she said, "Greetings, Noble Sirs. My name is Lilia. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance..."
Nodding his head in approval, Amarant placed his hand on the stunned Paul's shoulder, stating, "This is my son, Paul Notos Greyrat, First Son of House Notos. Why don't the two of you go off somewhere while I have a chat with your parents?"
Not sure how to respond, Lilia looked to her father for guidance. He had a scary expression on his face, but he quickly nodded his head, saying, "Go. Children have no place in adult discussion..."
"Okay..."
Bending down, Lilia attempted to pick up her basket, but Augusta stopped her, stating, "Just go. Your mother and I will take care of it."
Though she was startled by her father's tone, Lilia didn't flinch. She had gotten used to him shouting in the dojo, so, after a moment of silence, she nodded her head, repeating, "Okay..." before making her way over to Paul, lowering her head, and saying, "Please follow me, Sir Paul..."
Still at a loss for words, Paul simply nodded in response to Lilia's. He was still trying to convince himself she was someone different from the person he was thinking about, but all the signs pointed to the possibility she was the same Lilia from the original Mushoku Tensei. If that was the case, he really might be loved...or perhaps cursed by fate...

As if her internal clock was more accurate than a genuine timepiece, the lids of Jean's eyes began to flutter at precisely 2 AM. When she opened them, her body briefly tensed as she noticed herself holding onto Paul as he slept precariously close to the edge of his bed.
Fearing she might knock Paul out of the bed if she released him, Jean did the exact opposite by scooching her body back and pulling him close. Her movements were more than enough to stir Paul, his eyes opening just as she rolled him onto his back, their faces less than 15cm apart.
After a moment of awkward silence where they just stared at each other, Jean adopted a faint smile, saying, "Good morning, Master Paul...I hope my presence did not make you too uncomfortable..."
"Uh...it was okay..."
With Jean leaning against him, Paul honestly had no idea how to respond. Fortunately, she didn't maintain the contact for very long. Following Paul's response, she promptly sat up, her body shivering beneath the relatively thin fabric of her nightgown as she said, "Give me a few minutes to kindle the hearth and prepare some warm water."
Though he was tempted to tell Jean to stay in bed until the sun came up, Paul ultimately remained silent. Even during their eleven-day journey back from the Academy, she never missed a day of training. Since she couldn't do it in the carriage, she would wait until they checked into an Inn before doing things like walking around on her hands, stretching, or swinging her sword for hours at a time.
With nothing but Paul to occupy her time, Jean was a certifiable training maniac.
Watching as Jean scurried barefoot across the icy floor, various thoughts crossed Paul's mind. Before he could even think to voice them, however, a crashing sound sounded throughout the room as Ei, wearing a nightgown that was at least two sizes too large, burst out, shouting, "Who dares to trespass my Master's chambers!?"
With the apparent intent of cutting down anyone she didn't recognize, Ei slapped her desolate chest to produce the hilt of a violet-purple sword made of condensed Electro Energy. However, instead of the 73cm Tachi she was used to, a diminutive edge that could barely pass as a knife came out.
"..."
"..."
"..."
Realizing that the only two people present were Jean and her Master, Ei hid her compact version of the Musou no Hitotachi behind her back as she said, "It would appear I was mistaken..."
Resisting the urge to comment on Ei's nearly non-existent blade, a smile made its way to Paul's face as he said, "Good morning, Ei. Did you have any trouble sleeping...?"
"Mmm...it was much smaller than the quarters I am used to, but it was sufficient. Ei thanks Master Paul for his concerns."
"Right...mind fixing your nightgown? Your...shoulder is showing..."
"Hmmm...?"
Looking down, Ei noticed that more than just her shoulder was showing. Instead of reacting bashfully, however, she just pulled up her sleeve and said, "Once again, Master Paul's righteous character shines through. Ei is truly humbled."
Adopting a wrier smile, Paul remained silent in response to Ei's praise. He might not be a piece of shit, but he was far from what he would consider a righteous person. Had Ei been in her mature form, he would have felt a lot more than guilt seeing her wardrobe malfunction.
Interpreting her Master's silence as a disinterest in communication, Ei shifted her attention to Jean, asking, "Do you require assistance?" in her characteristically calm, almost cold tone.
Surprised by Ei's words, Jean asked, "Do you know how to light a hearth?"
Shaking her head, Ei answered, "I've never tried. However, I've observed lightning setting trees ablaze. If I control the output, I should be able to-"
Trusting his instincts, Paul interrupted Ei's proposal, saying, "It's okay, Ei. Just leave such things to Jean. Besides, it's barely 2 in the morning. You don't need to be up just yet."
"Absurd!"
Matching her exclamation, Ei had an ostensibly offended look on her face as she placed her hand over her heart and exclaimed, "What kind of Maid sleeps in when her Master is already awake!?"
Shivering due to more than just the cold, Paul did his best to control the clattering of his teeth as he asked, "Then w-w-what do you want to d-d-d-do...?"
Realizing she was releasing Electro Energy throughout the room, Ei did her best to rein it in before lowering herself to the cold, hard ground, her forehead contacting its surface as she said, "Ei has wronged her Master. Please render a punishment unto this foolish woman..."
Covering his eyes with his left hand, Paul lightly massaged his temples as he took a few steadying breaths. He didn't know if it was because he was in the world of an anime, but Ei's behavior was so far beyond ordinary that it rapidly drained his mental energies. If he was being completely honest, a small part of him wanted to just 'order' her to behave normally...
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Paul lowered his hand, his eyes fixating on the top of Ei's head as he said, "If you're going to stay up, you may as well get dressed. As for your 'punishment'...it is not your place to determine when and for what I punish you for..."
Since it didn't appear as though Ei would be willing to listen to reason, Paul decided to 'put his foot' down. Not literally, but he at least tried to sound like he was chastising her.
"Ah..."
Realizing she had been impertinent yet again, Ei pressed her head even more firmly against the floor as she said, "Master Paul is correct! Ei has overstepped her bounds and been presumptuous. Please-"
"Ei..."
Though Paul's voice was barely a whisper, Ei immediately quieted down when she heard his utterance. She prepared herself for a harsh rebuke; instead, Paul exhaled a sigh and said, "Please just get up, return to your room, and get dressed. Watching you bow and hearing you apologize in such an unwarranted manner...it just doesn't feel right. You're the Raiden Shogun, not some Maidservant. You shouldn't be bowing to anyone..."
Though she raised her head, Ei didn't immediately say or do anything. She just stared at Paul sitting on his bed, her deep amethyst irises and radiant, Electro purple pupils boring holes into him. When she did speak, her voice was softer than usual despite her firmly stating, "You're a good man, Paul Notos Greyrat..."
Rising to her feet, Ei took a moment to make sure her nightgown was in order before meeting Paul's gaze a second time. He was expecting her to compliment him further. Thus, he immediately became slackjawed when Ei stated, "I don't know how."
"...pardon?"
With a completely serious expression on her face, Ei thumped her chest as she announced, "I, Raiden Ei, Shogun of Inazuma, do not know how to dress myself!"
"..."
Resisting the urge to ask how such a thing was possible, Paul just shook his head before looking towards Jean and asking, "Jean...?" in a helpless tone.
Understanding what Paul was asking her, Jean offered a wry smile as she replied, "Leave it to me."
Walking over to Ei, Jean grabbed the former's hand, whispering, "I'll help you get dressed." with the same awkward smile on her face. In response, Ei nodded her head, her tone and expression a lot firmer than when she was speaking to Paul as she said, "You have my gratitude."
Watching Jean drag Ei back to her quarters, Paul waited for the door to close behind him before sinking into his bed. The sheets had become a little chilly, but that didn't stop him from huddling up under his blankets and simply lying in silence. At least, that's how things were supposed to be. The moment he pulled the blankets over his head, he noticed a faint yet clearly feminine aroma that was impossible to ignore...
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After one of the most exhaustive nights and mornings of his life, Paul was spent by the time he completed his morning routine with Jean. Ei's advice had given both him and Jean much greater insight into the 'true nature' of swordsmanship, but it did little to combat the heavy bags under his eyes.
Unfortunately, as part of the agreement he made with his father, Paul had to meet with him first thing in the morning. Amarant wanted proof of his ability to summon and contract Familiars, so, after an incredibly awkward bath with Jean, Ei, and a playfully curious Xinyan, Paul gathered everyone to meet with his father.
*tok* *tok* *tok*
"Enter."
Hearing his father's voice before he could announce himself, Paul paused for a moment before pushing open the heavy wooden door and ushering everyone inside.
Seeing five new faces among his son's entourage, each a burgeoning beauty in their own right, Amarant's eyes briefly lit up before he shifted his attention to Paul and inquired, "Does the summoning ritual place a heavy burden on the caster? You look like you haven't slept in days..."
Smiling wryly in response to his father's words, Paul answered, "I can't reveal the specifics. Just know that it doesn't put my life in jeopardy or consume something like vitality."
"Mmm..."
Since his son had reiterated numerous times that he couldn't reveal the specifics of the summoning, Amarant didn't press him. It was more than enough knowing that his son had been telling the truth. He wasn't sure how powerful each of Paul's Familiars was, but the artifact that buzzed when powerful creatures were nearby was humming loud enough to be audible to others.
While passing his gaze over each member of Paul's entourage, Amarant asked, "Is there a reason they're all girls? If it's something you can't say, that's fine...I was just...curious..."
Though he had little interest in Paul's companions at the present moment, Amarant could tell they would grow into incredible beauties in the future. He was one of the few Nobles that had never taken any concubines, but due to his wife's ailing health, she was rarely available to help him satisfy his urges. If every Familiar his son summoned had such promise, Amarant wouldn't mind bankrolling a few for himself...
"Father..."
Seeing through his father's thoughts, Paul's fatigued expression became even more haggard. The very last thing he needed was his father lusting after the people he summoned through the Intersection of Fate. He had no intention of trying to monopolize the girls he summoned, but there was no way he would arbitrarily entrust them to others...standing be damned...
Thinking his son was worried about having his 'toys' taken away, Amarant adopted a helpless expression of his own as he appended, "Worry not. As I said before, I was just curious. So long as you do not invite unnecessary trouble to the Family and the Milbots Region, you are free to do with your 'companions' as you please..."
Relieved by his father's words, Paul bowed as a show of appreciation and respect. When the girls promptly emulated his courtesy, an awkward yet gratified smile developed across his face. He hadn't instructed them to do such a thing, so it must have been Zhongli's doing.
Nodding his head in approval, Amarant took a moment to stroke his chin in contemplation before saying, "Since you seem to be weary from your travels, I will give you the next week off. After that, you will be joining me to tour the region and learn about your responsibilities as a future Lord..."
Though he suspected his son had the potential to become something far greater than a Regional Lord, Amarant would never dare say such a thing aloud. He was still loyal to the Asura Kingdom, so unless the Royals went out of their way to antagonize them, Amarant would continue performing his duties without thoughts of conspiracy.
Though he wasn't looking forward to spending nearly six weeks traveling around, inspecting the region, and watching Nobles kiss his father's ass, Paul still smiled in response to his father's words, saying, "I won't let you down." in a sincere tone. He might not like it, but he was still the First Son of House Notos. For the sake of his ambitions and the preservation of two worlds, Paul would willfully bear the duties and responsibilities of a Lord...
Nodding his head a second time, a rare smile graced Amarant's face as he said, "You never have. Now, away with you. There are at least eight better ways you can be using your time right now. Just don't get so carried away you can't get it up on your wedding night. Understood?"
Smiling wryly in response to his father's words, Paul wanted to clarify the misunderstanding, but Amarant was pretending to concentrate on one of the papers littered around his desk...
...
..
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Chapter 23: MI23: Accompaniment