Mushoku Impact

With Rosaria not being very talkative, it wasn't long before Paul found himself preparing for his final pull. As far as he knew, he was guaranteed to get a 5-Star ally or weapon during his next summon. The only question was, which one?
Seeing through Paul's thoughts, Xinyan asked, "Who do you want to get?"
Shifting his attention to the kissing demon sitting behind him, a wry smile developed across Paul's face as he answered, "My penultimate goal is to obtain someone who can treat my mother. To that end, I believe Albedo is the best possible option..."
Though she couldn't recall anyone named Albedo from the Intersection of Fate, that didn't prevent Xinyan from nodding her head and saying, "Got it. I'll do my best."
Fully embracing her status as Paul's lucky charm, Xinyan bounced to her feet before spreading her arms wide and saying, "Come on. I'll give you an extra special dose of good luck this time."
Resisting the urge to ask if she was serious, Paul exhaled a sigh before rising to his feet and opening his arms. In response, Xinyan adopted an awkward smile as she said, "I don't mind taking the lead, but I was kind of expecting you to do it..."
Blinking in surprise, Paul opened his mouth, but no words came out. He was strangely okay with Xinyan leaping into his arms, but the thought of doing the same just felt...wrong.
Adopting what could best be described as a sad smile, Xinyan dropped her arms and said, "Sorry. I guess I got a little carried away. I should have realized you wouldn't want to kiss me..."
Confused by the diminutive rockstar's words, Paul's brows furrowed as he asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Avoiding Paul's eyes, Xinyan became distinctly aware that everyone was staring at them. A combination of shame and guilt immediately washed over her, its wake leaving her feeling like a complete idiot.
Just as Xinyan was about to apologize for causing a misunderstanding, Paul grabbed her shoulders and said, "Let me make one thing clear. The only reason I have any apprehensions at all is because we currently look like children. If you were in your original form..."
With Paul's words trailing off, Xinyan turned her gaze to meet his, a fiery look in her eyes as she asked, "What would happen...?"
Though he felt like he was crossing a line he shouldn't, Paul's expression became severe as he repeated his usual, "I'm not a good person..." before lowering his voice and adding, "You know exactly what I would do..."
Since she was looking at him, Paul seized the opportunity to plant a very chaste kiss on Xinyan's lips. He knew she was expecting something more explicit, but that would have to wait until much, much later...preferably in ten to fifteen years...
Leaving Xinyan in her momentary daze, Paul plopped down between Jean and Ningguang before promptly placing his hands on the summoning dais and shouting, "Confirm...!" in a resolute tone. At this point, he just wanted to get things over with so he could get to sleep.
Reinforcing the notion that Pity existed, the meteor that emerged quickly gained a magnificent golden hue. It was the type of color that stirred the dreams and aspirations of men and women alike, so much so that Paul found it hard to stay seated even with two budding beauties flanking his sides.
Expecting another Archon or something else completely ridiculous, Paul found his mouth and eyes widening when the person who emerged from the golden light was someone he had been trying to obtain since his very first summon. She had pale-blue hair, amethyst eyes, and was noticeably shorter than most of the other girls present. She was also a little chubby, but the traits that stood out the most were the red and black horns on her head and the large bell dangling from her collar.
Though he had ultimately failed to obtain Albedo, Paul couldn't prevent his body from shaking a little as he muttered, "I actually pulled Ganyu..." in an audibly excited tone.
Ever since Paul had completed Ganyu's story quest, she had become his absolute favorite character in Genshin Impact. He honestly preferred the design of characters like Jean and Eula, but Ganyu had such a wholesome and forlorn temperament that people couldn't help wanting to cherish and protect her.
"Oh my...Xinyan really might be your lucky star..."
Hearing Ningguang, Paul reluctantly tore his eyes away from the adorable Qilin girl, asking, "What do you mean?"
Nodding in the direction of Ganyu, Ningguang explained, "Ganyu is one of the Adepti most knowledgable about healing and medicines. She was the one who restored the Jiangshi named Qiqi to life. Unless your mother has an incurable disease endemic to this world, Ganyu should be able to treat her."
"Lady Tiangquan...?"
Recovering from the disorientation that came with being summoned and crashing into an immovable stone platform, the first person Ganyu took notice of was Ningguang. In response, Ningguang issued a soft chuckle before directing a side-long gaze at Paul and stating, "I believe there is someone else you should be greeting before me..."
After briefly startling, Ganyu immediately folded her hands over her lap before bowing nearly forty-five degrees as she softly stated, "Pardon my late introduction, Master Paul. My name is Ganyu, and it is my great honor to be of service to you."
Though he felt awkward having someone like Ganyu bowing to him, Paul couldn't help smiling as he attempted to offer a bow of his own. Before he could, Ningguang chimed in, an amused smile on her face as she squinted her eyes mused, "Oh~? It seems our Master has a particular fondness for Liyue's local Qilin..."
Tensing in response to Ningguang's accusation, Paul wanted to refute her but found himself unable, or maybe unwilling to do so. The Ganyu he was familiar with was a pitiful girl who felt lonely even when surrounded by a sea of people who respected and adored her. He didn't have the heart to say he didn't care about her.
Surprising nearly everyone present, especially those he knew him, Paul said, "You're right. Back when you all were just characters from a video game, Ganyu was my favorite character. I never managed to unlock her, but her story and event dialogue made her most endearing character in the entire game..."
"My goodness..."
Not expecting Paul to say such a thing, Ganyu wasn't quite sure how to feel. Her most prominent emotion was anxiety, but there was also a faint, fluttering sensation in her chest. She was the type of person who counted the individual beats of her heart, so even minute changes in her physical condition stood out like candles in a dark room.
Fearing he had been misunderstood, Paul raised his hands in a placating gesture as he said, "Don't misunderstand. I mean, you're adorable, don't get me wrong, but I see you more as someone I need to protect.? It's...it's difficult to explain..."
Realizing he was fucking up magnificently, Paul scratched the back of his head and said, "You know what? Just forget I said anything...welcome to the group, Ganyu..."
Returning a dazzling smile of her own, Ganyu supplied a courteous bow as she said, "Thank you for your kind words, Master Paul. If there is ever anything I can do for you, anything at all, please let me know."
Though Paul's words and behavior had caught her off guard, Ganyu could tell he was a good person. She was only a half-qilin, but she had inherited many of the abilities associated with illuminated beasts. This included the ability to ascertain a person's true nature.
While it was impossible to say Paul was pure of heart and character, there was a breathtakingly beautiful light that radiated from the very core of his being. Like most humans, his essence was a chaotic muddle of self-doubt and other detrimental emotions, but his sense of purpose pierced through each of them like rays of sunlight after a terrible storm had passed...
...
..
.
"Ningguang..."
"Yes, Master Paul~?"
"Remind me again how I ended up in this situation..."
"Why, certainly..."
Without raising her head from Paul's shoulder, Ningguang slowly traced her finger along his collarbone as she explained, "Even if everything went perfectly to plan, we would be stuck in this world for approximately thirty years. To prevent people from succumbing to things like depression and lack of purpose, it's important to strengthen the bonds between each of us..."
"Mmm...I see...however..."
"Hmm~? Is there something else you would like to ask, Master Paul~?"
Looking around at the half a dozen girls sharing his bed, three of which were sharing his body as a pillow, Paul's expression was a mask of calm as he said, "I feel like you're setting me up to become a criminal..."
As the person lying directly atop Paul, Ganyu blushed up to her ears as she asked, "Am I too heavy...?"
Forcing a smile, Paul answered, "No...but that is hardly the issue here..."
Exhaling a sigh of relief, Ganyu left Paul feeling at a loss for words as she smiled and said, "That's a relief..." before snuggling closer to him.
"..."
Taking advantage of Paul's silence, Ningguang appended, "Master Paul said it himself. There is 'absolutely no chance' of you taking liberties with us in our present forms. As laudable as that is, four-to-eleven years is a long time to abstain from physical intimacy..."
Since Xinyan was among the girls not present at the moment, Ningguang elected to use her as an example, explaining, "Take Xinyan as an example. Her skills as a warrior are lacking, and her talent as a musician is severely underappreciated in a world such a this. Even without conversing with her directly, I can tell she has been struggling with her sense of purpose. She wants to help but feels her talents are inconsequential compared to some of the more...capable members of our little group..."
Furrowing his brows, Paul asked, "What are you trying to say? That Xinyan developed a crush on me because she didn't have any other choice...?"
Shaking her head, Ningguang met Paul's gaze as she asserted, "Master Paul has is backward. Xinyan, much like the rest of us, made our choice long before you summoned us. Based on the information provided, most of us had the very realistic expectation that we would be treated as little more than slaves when we entered this world. Once someone has formed that kind of resolve, it creates a certain...disparity within their mind when things don't go as planned..."
Attempting to dumb things down a bit, Ningguang traced Paul's bottom lip as she explained, "Simply put, Xinyan came into this world fully expecting to sacrifice herself so that some of us would have a reasonable degree of freedom to act. Instead, she encountered a kind and sensible Master who contrasted every expectation she had..."
Adopting a faint smile, Ningguang appended, "In other words, she fell in love with you due to the quality of your character. Have more confidence in yourself...after all, for one reason or another, every girl presently within your bed chose to be here..."
"I might not have if I knew the two of you were going to keep talking all night..."
Sitting up from her position near the foot of Paul's bed, Diona rubbed her right eye as she grumbled, "Just go to sleep already, stupid Master. Even if you have the mind of an adult, you're still a kid. If you don't get plenty of rest while you're young, you'll end up stunting your growth..."
Seemingly finished with what she had to say, Diona laid down with her back touching Paul's left foot. She couldn't see a person's essence like an illuminated beast, but her intuition was comparable to the beast people in Mushoku Tensei. Paul gave off a 'completely harmless' aura, so while she would refuse if he asked to touch her tail, she might consider letting him pet her head if he brought his hands together and begged...
Taking advantage of Diona's interruption, Ningguang stopped tracing her finger around Paul's face and body, drawing closer to him as she quietly suggested, "Let's talk about this in the morning..."
Though there was still a lot he wanted to say, Paul remained silent for several seconds before replying, "Right..." in a quiet, somewhat subdued tone. Then, while doing his best to ignore the flowery aroma and softness of Ganyu's body, Paul closed his eyes in a vain attempt to force himself to sleep...
...
..
.

Though it was taking Paul a bit of time to adapt to his new sleeping arrangements, the days that followed his third round of gacha were filled with fortuitous encounters and occurrences.
The day following their summoning, Paul introduced Ningguang, Ganyu, Barbara, Rosaria, and Diona to his father. Amarant was a little concerned by the presence of even more young girls around his son, but his worries immediately faded when he learned that Ganyu could potentially treat his wife.
Upon meeting her son's new companions, Valentine couldn't help being taken with Diona and Ganyu. The former had a bit of a sharp tongue, but she was actually a very caring and affectionate young girl. As for Ganyu, everything about her was adorable.
In the end, it turned out that Valentine's illness wasn't an illness at all. At the very least, she wasn't sick when Ganyu gave her a check-up. The crux of Valentine's issues was the fact she had been taking so many medicines since she was a child that her immune system had been compromised. As for her constant infirmity, it was a combination of her secretly depressive state of mind and the fact Amarant was constantly bringing home foreign bacteria as a result of his travels.
Fortunately for Amarant, who briefly became depressed upon learning the truth of his wife's illness, Valentine's condition was not incurable. It would take several years for her to make a full recovery, but her condition would steadily improve with a combination of rehabilitation, proper nutrition, and the consumption of natural antibiotics. To that end, Ganyu volunteered to be Valentine's caretaker as it had already been decided that she wouldn't be one of the people attending the Academy with Paul.
Needless to say, Amarant was beyond enthused to find out that his wife would make a slow yet full recovery. Ningguang took advantage of this to reach an agreement with the man. She claimed that she would be able to increase the income of House Notos by at least 40% by the time of Paul's tenth birthday. More importantly, she claimed to be able to do it without raising taxes or embezzling funds from the citizenry.
While Amarant didn't believe Ningguang's claims, he still agreed to her proposal after nearly four hours of discussion. She would only be able to travel with him when Paul was visiting home from the Academy, but she and Ganyu would be allowed to learn how to administer the Estate from Valentine and the current Chamberlain. If her claims proved true, he was willing to act as her Sponsor, guaranteeing her the title of Baroness and promising to consider her marriage with Paul.
Though Ningguang would have preferred something more than a promise, she understood Amarant's unwillingness to trust a complete stranger with the entire Region's finances. She would need to earn his trust with results, so while Paul was away at school, she would be accompanying his mother and gradually increasing her influence within the Notos Estate.
Fortunately for Ningguang, Paul really had been fortunate with the 'pulls' he made through the Intersection of Fate. She could have made do with just Zhongli, but Ganyu possessed more than 3000 years of knowledge and experience as the Liyue Qixing's Secretary. She was an unbelievably capable ally to have from the very beginning, so much so that Ningguang almost felt like she was being handed the means for success rather than having to earn them.
Providing Ningguang with even more options, Diona was a genius when it came to creating cocktails and improving the quality of alcohol. She had a deep disdain for both, but it didn't take much effort to convince her to use her inborn talent to aid their cause.
While Diona's abilities might not have been practical elsewhere, she may as well be the Patron Goddess of House Notos. They had a monopoly on alcohol production and distribution, so Diona's unique talent would allow them to drastically increase their profits by simply improving the quality of their product.
The only thing Ningguang was missing to guarantee the success of her plans was a reliable information network. She could have used people like Kaeya and Rosaria if they were older, but, even then, it would take years, if not decades, to spread her influence throughout the entire Region. At least, that's how it would have been if not for the fact that slavery was 'very' prominent within the world of Mushoku Tensei.
Though Paul had been against the idea at first, it didn't take much effort for Ningguang to convince him that hiring slaves greatly benefitted both them and the slaves themselves. Much like how he had helped Lilia, they could help hundreds, if not thousands, of slaves avoid a far more terrible fate.
At the end of the day, metaphorically speaking, Ningguang had everyone in the Notos Estate dancing in the palm of her hand. She wasn't in control just yet, but she had made a favorable impression on Valentine, convinced Amarant to put his promise into writing, and knew exactly what to say and do to get Paul to agree with her. She also had the confidence and support of everyone from the Intersection of Fate. The only thing she was lacking was an official title and the status that came with it. However, unless Paul reneged on his promise, Ningguang was confident she could convince him to tie the knot. Even if he did, she could be 'very' persuasive...
...
..
.
"Be safe on the road and diligent in your studies. When you return, we will be waiting for you."
A stark contrast to everyone else in Paul's entourage, Ningguang was wearing the fashionable clothes of a young Noblewoman. Her contract with Amarant had provisionally elevated her to the status of a Baroness, so she was already playing the part of Paul's future wife. This would have been considered a faux pas in any other circumstance, but her unfettered confidence left people questioning whether or not they were the ones in the wrong.
Having gotten used to Ningguang's behavior over the last week and a half, Paul just smiled in response to her words before nodding his head and saying, "Leave it to me."
Nodding her head in approval, Ningguang shifted her attention to Jean, Barbara, Xiangling, and Xinyan. They were the ones chosen to accompany Paul to the Milbots Academy, so Ningguang adopted an authoritative tone as she said, "I am entrusting our Master's safety to you. Ensure he returns to us, no matter the cost."
With Ningguang forcing them to rehearse their response for nearly three hours, Jean, Barbara, Xiangling, and Xinyan all bowed in concert as they chorused, "No matter the cost."
Offering an additional nod, Ningguang gestured for the quartet to rise before raising her left hand. In response, Paul inhaled an audible breath before accepting it and planting a lingering kiss on her ring finger. He felt like he was being ensnared in Ningguang's trap, but things had improved so drastically since her arrival that Paul no longer cared...
...
..
.
A stark contrast to the other times they had ridden together in a private carriage, Paul was relaxing with his eyes closed while Jean and Barbara used his shoulders and pillows. One of the things that had changed most drastically since the eve of Paul's third round of summoning was how he interacted with the girls who proactively approached him. He refused to take the initiative, but he allowed them to do pretty much whatever they wanted so long as it didn't cross an increasingly obscure line...
Feeling the bumpy carriage slow to a stop, the eyes of everyone within gradually opened, Xinyan being the first to sleepily inquire, "Are we there yet...?". They had only been around 58km away when they set out earlier that morning, so the convoy commander had decided to continue moving forward even after the sun had gone down.
Instead of answering Xinyan's question, a frown developed across Paul's face as he strained his eyes to activate his X-Ray Vision. Milbots Academy was a heavily fortified, wall-off town with numerous security checkpoints and cobblestone roads. If they were nearing their destination, it would be apparent from the sound of hooves on hard stone.
Since bandit and monster attacks weren't exactly silent or discreet, Paul expected to find something like a downed tree or a rockslide blocking the road. Instead, the entire convoy was halted by a single woman with short black hair, a voluptuous figure, and a longsword strapped to her waist.
As if she could sense his gaze, the woman spontaneously ceased talking to the convoy commander, her piercing blue eyes zeroing in on Paul and causing his body to immediately tense.
"What...the...fuck...?"
"Is it the enemy!?"
Unsheathing her sword, Jean was prepared to charge out of the carriage and meet the enemy head-on. Before she could, Paul grabbed her wrist, perspiration condensing on his brow as he said, "Don't...whoever that is, she isn't an opponent we can fight...not yet..."
Though she wanted to protest, Jean immediately quieted down when Paul asserted, "I said no." in a firm, authoritative tone.
Nodding her head, Jean returned to her seat but chose to keep her sword at the ready. She didn't doubt that the person outside was someone she couldn't defeat. However, that wasn't enough to deter her. If push came to shove, she, Xiangling, and Xinyan were prepared to stake everything so that Barbara could pull Paul to safety.
Fortunately, things didn't come to that, as, shortly after she exchanged glances with Paul, the rather heroic-looking woman stepped off the road so that the convoy could pass. As it did, she followed Paul's carried with her piercing blue eyes, a faint smile on her face as she slowly mouthed a few words. Paul wasn't particularly good at reading lips, but due to how slow the woman's mouth was moving, his body tensed as he managed to make out the words, "See. You. Around."
...
..
.
With no further incidents, the convoy carrying Paul and his companions reached their destination shortly after 11 PM. It took an additional two hours to get everything unloaded and moved up to his room, but once everything had calmed down, Paul was genuinely relieved to be back in his room at the Milbots Academy. He wasn't particularly fond of the idea of having to interact with the children of other Nobles, but he enjoyed the relative freedom that came with living in the dorms.
*tok* *tok* *tok*
"The bath's ready."
Hearing Xinyan's voice through the door to his private quarters, Paul nodded his head towards no one in particular as he said, "Be there in a moment."
Instead of waiting for Paul to come out, Xinyan opened the door to reveal she was already wearing a thin towel. Paul's brows furrowed when he saw this, but he didn't say anything. He had kept the promise they made back in the Intersection of Fate, so, even when she was completely exposed in the bath, he didn't look away or keep his eyes closed. He just didn't stare at anything he shouldn't.
After making her way over to where Paul was seated, Xinyan linked her arms around his shoulders, leaning against him as she asked, "What are you up to?"
Though Xinyan could clearly see what he was doing, Paul explained, "I'm sketching the woman that blocked our convoy. I forgot to ask the convoy commander about her identity, so I intend to ask the Headmistress if she recognizes her."
While bringing her arms up as if to embrace Paul, Xinyan hummed a soft, "Mmm..." before adding, "Don't take too long..." and planting a kiss on his cheek. In response, Paul set aside his piece of charcoal, muttering, "I can finish it later..." before rising to his feet and accompanying the increasingly affectionate rockstar to his private sauna...
...
..
.

After an awkward yet comforting hug, Paul would be lying if he said he didn't feel a lot better. When Xinyan attempted to kiss him on the cheek, however, he politely refused, explaining, "I want to test whether or not you really are my lucky goddess. This time around, I'll roll without using my own luck..."
Though she felt a little awkward being refused after she had already puckered up her lips, Xinyan just smiled and winked as she said, "Sure. Just don't blame me if you end up regretting it."
Chuckling dryly, Paul placed his hands on the summoning dais and said, "Confirm..." with a bit of irresolution in his tone. He doubted she had done it deliberately, but he felt like Xinyan's words had just jinxed him.
Turning his eyes skyward, Paul watched as the meteor overhead retained its vibrant blue hue throughout its flight. When Xinyan saw this, a nervous chuckle emanated from her throat as she scratched the back of her head. At the same time, a rather potent blush spread through her cheeks as she seriously considered the possibility she was Paul's good luck charm.
Seeing nothing but 3-Star Weapons appear, Paul's expression morphed into a deadpan as he said, "Now's your chance to shine...if I get another 4-Star pull after this, I'll-"
Before Paul could finish speaking, Xinyan grabbed the sides of his head, saying, "Don't go making promises that will stress you out...". Then, with no discernible hesitation, she pulled his head closer as she leaned in to give him a much longer kiss than before. By the time she released him, nearly twenty seconds later, even Paul's face was beet red.
Though he didn't know what had caused it, Paul was now pretty fucking sure that Xinyan liked him. He suspected it had something to do with the Suspension Bridge Effect or Stockholm Syndrome, but that didn't change the fact that she was showing clear interest in him...
"What are you waiting for...?"
Seeing Paul staring at her with a completely blank expression on his face, Xinyan's blush spread through her ears. Her efforts to resist looking away caused her to gaze back at Paul with an upturned gaze, her amber eyes glistening with natural allure. Had she been a little older, Paul might have keeled over from such a look. Instead, he promptly averted his eyes, sat straight, and replied, "Right. Gotta get someone who can help take care of my mom..." in a dull yet audibly flummoxed tone.
While doing his best to ignore Jean and Ningguang staring at him, Paul placed his hands on the summoning dais. However, instead of shouting confirm, he offered a silent prayer to the RNG Gods, imploring them 'not' to give him a good roll. If Xinyan's kisses became any more intense, his brain might legitimately shortcircuit.
"Confirm..."
As if to spite Paul, the meteor in the sky immediately transitioned from blue to purple. To add insult to injury, the meteor promptly split apart to reveal two dazzling purple comets among an entourage of eight sky-blue trails of light.
Resisting the urge to facepalm and massage his temples, Paul waited patiently for the comets to impact the summoning platform. When they did, any doubts he had about Xinyan's effect on his luck were shattered as not one but two people appeared.
"Oh? Do I spy a half-pint Ningguang? How adorable."
Standing taller than the other girls present, a rather heroic-looking little girl with maroon-brown hair, red eyes, and a Maid outfit that more closely resembled a swordswoman's garb made her presence known. Compared to the petite and incredibly delicate-looking girl behind her, she was like a tiny yet indomitable mountain.
Before Ningguang could respond to the first girl's words, Jean interposed herself into the conversation, muttering, "Barbara...?" in reference to the dainty, twin-tailed girl standing behind.
Seeing her elder sister sitting next to Paul, a brief glimmer of frustration flashed across Barbara's eyes before she promptly adopted an incredibly radiant smile and said, "Sister Jean, I'm relieved to see you here. I was a little worried I wouldn't have anyone to talk to."
Exhibiting considerably less enthusiasm than her younger sister, Jean turned toward Paul and muttered, "Master Paul..." in an imploring tone.
Understanding Jean's concern, Paul answered, "Go ahead. I'll see you back at the estate."
With Paul's permission, Jean intended to take Barbara someplace they could talk in private. Barbara seemed to take exception to this, however, her face forming into a pout as she asserted, "Jean. It was my decision to accept the contract. I don't need you to protect me."
Taken aback by her sister's words, Jean opened her mouth but couldn't find the words to speak. It didn't help that Barbara immediately folded her hands across her lap, bowing towards Paul as she said, "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Master Paul. I may not be very strong, but I vow to do everything in my power to make your life more pleasant. If you need healing or any other services, please don't hesitate to ask. I am here to do my part to restore our world, not to be protected..."
Directing the final few words at her sister, Barbara made it clear she had no intention of letting Jean keep her 'protected' while everyone else was working hard. Jean had attempted to prevent her and several others from signing the Gods' contract back when they first arrived at the Intersection of Fate. Barbara both understood and appreciated her intentions, but she also hated how Jean always tried to carry everything herself.
Not wanting to see the two sisters fight, Paul thought about stepping in to try and mediate. Before he could, Jean surprised both him and Barbara by saying, "Very well...just...don't do anything you'll regret..."
"Jean..."
Expecting her older sister to put up much greater resistance, innumerable thoughts crossed Barbara's mind as she shifted her cerulean eyes to Paul. He was the only reason she could think of to explain her sister's swift and unexpected capitulation.
Realizing that Paul might not be the monster many of them expected him to be, a genuine smile developed across Barbara's face as she said, "You must be an incredible person to have my sister's trust..."
Feeling discomforted by the unexpected praise, Paul forced a smile as he scratched the back of his head and said, "Not really...compared to all the people I've summoned through the Intersection of Fate, I may as well be completely average..."
Instead of expressing concern or being put off by Paul's words, Barbara felt an almost immediate kinship with him. She was well acquainted with living in the unfathomably long shadows of superior people, so she could easily empathize with what he was saying.
Bringing the tips of her fingers together, Barbara's smile increased in size as she said, "Then we just need to work together. If we both do our best, I'm certain we can become much, much stronger."
Gaining a marginally more sincere smile of his own, Paul replied, "Sure. I look forward to working with you, Barbara."
As Barbara was about to return Paul's words, the heroic-looking woman standing next to her interjected, asking, "You two about done, or are you going to keep flirting all night?"
With Barbara silenced by a bout of bashfulness, the heroic-looking girl thumbed her chest, a fearless smile on her face as she met Paul's gaze and said, "The name's Beidou. Back in my world, I was Captain of The Crux Pir-I mean, The Crux Privateering Company. When it comes to sea travel, bootlegging, and exploration, I'm your girl. Of course, I'll need a fleet, crew, and plenty of booze if you want to see my true power."
Though Beidou was one of his favorite characters in Genshin Impact, Paul couldn't help feeling a little overwhelmed. She was only six years old, but he could genuinely imagine her sailing into a storm with a dauntless smile and a jar of wine in hand.
Forcing a smile, Paul explained, "The Milbots Region is landlocked. There are plenty of rivers, but few are large enough to serve as shipping lanes."
Without losing even a fraction of her intensity, Beidou just shrugged her shoulders, saying, "Not like I could do much in this body. Just make sure to set aside funds for a few ships. Once I flesh out a bit, I'll journey East, beat a few people into shape, and take over a couple of ports."
Intervening before Beidou could give Paul an aneurysm, Ningguang said, "Beidou, you're troubling our Master. We'll address this matter at a later date. Understood?"
Wriggling her thin, swordlike eyebrows in response to Ningguang's words, Beidou maintained a fearless smile as she said, "Sure thing, Guangguang. Just don't leave me sitting on my ass for the next twenty years. I get stir crazy when I'm away from the sea for too long."
Well aware of the type of person Beidou was, Ningguang simply nodded her head, a faint smile on her face as she said, "Understood. Now, please remove yourself from the center platform. Master Paul is presently in the process of growing our numbers."
"Sure. Just give me one second..."
Before leaving the center of the summoning circle, Beidou attempted to pick up one of the higher quality claymores present. It was a lot heavier than she expected, but that didn't deter her from straining herself to pick it up place it on her shoulder. Then, with a wolfish grin on her face, she looked to Paul and asked, "Mind if I keep this one...?"
Though he was about to ask where she would keep a sword that was longer than she was tall, Paul recalled that Beidou possessed an Electro Vision. In other words, she was one of the few people present who could actually make use of her Vision.
Seeing no reason to refuse, Paul answered, "Go ahead. However, I would suggest practicing with something smaller..."
Completely ignoring Paul's words, Beidou synchronized the Bloodstained Greatsword with her Vision, saying, "Neat." before making her way over to Zhongli, Ei, Xiangling, Yaoyao, and Diona.
After shaking his head in mock exasperation, Paul placed his hands on the summoning dais. Ningguang had dutifully slotted 100AGC into the groove while everyone else was distracted, so he just needed to initiate it.
"Forgetting something...?"
Hearing Xinyan's voice, Paul briefly startled before turning to her. Before he could even think to apologize, however, she grabbed the sides of his head and planted an even longer kiss on his lips. This caused Barbara to immediately cover her face, but if you looked closely, you could see her peeking between her fingers.
Releasing Paul's head nearly a minute later, Xinyan licked the remnant saliva from her lips before saying, "Good luck..." in a soft and noticeably sultry tone.
Recovering from his stupor several seconds later, Paul muttered, "Yeah..." before turning to the summoning dais. Xinyan had attempted to slip her tongue into his mouth towards the very end, but he managed to prevent it by pursing his lips and keeping his mouth shut. He felt like an insensitive twat for doing such a thing but acquitted himself on the grounds he and Xinyan currently resembled children.
Shaking stray thoughts from his mind, Paul placed his hands within the oversized prints and shouted, "Confirm...!". When the vibrant blue meteor immediately gained a purple hue, he wasn't even surprised. It likely had absolutely nothing to do with Xinyan, but every single pull following one of her kisses resulted in a hit...
Interrupting Paul's reverie, the nine blue and one purple comet impacted the center of the platform. From within, a petite girl with maroon hair, not all that dissimilar to Lilia's, emerged. It was just much shorter and had a wine-red streak running down her bangs. Her eyes were a shade of wine red with pink, cat-like irises, and her skin was a pale, nearly grey shade of purple.
Speaking out before anyone else could, Barbara covered her mouth in shock as she exclaimed, "Sister Rosaria...!" in a pleasantly surprised tone. In stark contrast to this, the sickly-looking little girl maintained a neutral expression as she gave herself a quick once-over and complained, "How troublesome..."
...
..
.

Chapter 30: MI30: Desire to Protect