Mushoku Impact

Waking early the following morning, just after 1 AM, the first thing Paul noticed was the top of Ganyu's head. Even without him asking, she had reverted to being his squishy and fragrant hug pillow of her own accord.
Unfortunately, the inevitable had finally happened as Paul's little brother had awoken before him. Ganyu didn't seem to notice or care, but Ei was currently poking at it with a curious look on her face.
"Don't even think about asking if I need help with it..."
Hearing Paul's words, Ei briefly startled before quickly regaining her calm and asking, "Are you sure? Even if this form prevents me from serving you properly, there are other-"
"Ei..."
Cutting Ei off, Paul made a come hither gesture before spreading his arm so that she could nestle against him. When she did, Paul surprised her by asking, "Do you want to kiss...?"
"Eh...?"
Not expecting Paul to make such a request, Ei's mouth and eyes widened as a surprisingly prominent blush spread through her cheeks. If it was for the sake of her duty, she was willing and prepared to provide virtually any service. However, when it came to intimate acts such as kissing or holding hands, she was wholly unprepared...
Taking advantage of Ei's surprisingly adorable stupor, Paul relaxed, closed his eyes, and muttered, "There is an order to everything..." before trying to fall back asleep. This wasn't the first time he had awoken in this particular predicament, so he no longer reacted as if he had done something wrong. It was still pretty embarrassing, but it wasn't like he could will himself not to have morning wood.
Seeing Paul lay back his head and try to sleep, Ei couldn't help feeling as though she had somehow failed him. However, instead of saying anything to try and redeem herself, she exchanged glances with Ganyu. Neither of them actually required sleep, so the two of them had been awake most of the night.
Returning a faint smile, Ganyu demonstrated what Ei should be doing by simply closing her eyes. When Ei saw this, a scant pout developed across her face as she thought Ganyu was ignoring her. Fortunately for the latter, Ei didn't want to disturb her Master, so, after staring at Ganyu for several seconds, the petite Archon just nestled closer to Paul before closing her eyes...
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After waking up at 2-3 AM every morning for the better part of a year, Barbara was up and out her door by 2:28 AM. She immediately made for Paul's room but found the path blocked by her elder sister, Xinyan, and Xiangling.
"Good morning, Barbara. It seems you're the last to arrive."
Though Jean didn't mean anything by her words, Barbara couldn't help furrowing her brows as she asked, "The last to arrive for what? Are we not going to train today...?"
Both surprising and upsetting Barbara, Jean shook her head and said, "We have spent the past 323 days at our Master's side. Unless he approaches us, we should let him enjoy his holiday and spend some time with the rest of our companions."
Believing she knew Paul better than her sister, Barbara asserted, "That is for Master Paul to decide. If we suddenly distance ourselves from him, he might misunderstand and feel hurt. Move out of the way."
Brandishing her wooden, rapier-like sword, Barbara was fully prepared to try and force her way through if Jean attempted to block her path. Before she could, a raspy yet girlish voice startled her, loudly inquiring, "What do you think you're doing!?"
Spinning around, Barbara pointed the tip of her sword at the comparably petite girl with pink hair, cat ears, and a tail standing behind her. Despite this, the girl didn't so much as flinch as she placed her hands on her hips and sternly advised, "This isn't a training hall or a sword dojo. If you want to swing your sword around, do it outside. A lot of people work their butts off to keep this place clean. Don't you go messing it up...!"
"Diona...?"
Feeling a combination of embarrassment and shame, Barbara promptly returned her sword to her hip before bowing apologetically and stating, "Sorry, Diona...I should have been more considerate..."
Crossing her arms, Diona nodded her head and said, "You're right; you should have. Now, what's got the two of you squabbling so early in the morning? Don't you know that people are trying to sleep...?"
"Uh..."
Despite drawing her sword on her moments prior, Barbara looked to Jean for a way out of her present predicament. Her previous actions aside, she wasn't very good at dealing with confrontation.
Restraining a sigh, Jean closed her eyes for a moment before opening them and saying, "We typically wake up around this time to start training with our Master. What about you, Diona? What has you out and about at this hour...?"
Losing much of her bravado, a faint blush developed across Diona's face as she averted her eyes and said, "That's...that's none of your business..."
Unable to resist, Xinyan jokingly remarked, "She probably had to poop."
Reacting like a cat that had its tail stepped on, Diona seemed to forget how early it was as she loudly hissed and shouted, "Your face is made of poop!"
Since racism wasn't really a thing back in Liyue and Mondstadt, Xinyan just raised her brows in response to Diona's words, smiling as she asked, "Did you get it out of your system~?"
"Gnuuuuuuu....!"
Annoyed by Xinyan's remark, Diona stomped her foot on the ground a few times before storming off in the direction of her room. She only made it a few steps, however, before Paul opened his door, poked his head out, and asked, "What's going on out here...?"
As Diona froze in place, Barbara seized the opportunity to slip past Paul and ask, "Did you want to take a rest today, or do you want to continue practicing our swordsmanship...together?"
Noticing Paul was topless despite the frigid temperatures, Barbara's eyes wandered from his face to his torso. He lacked the charm of an older boy, but Paul's body was already showing the tell-tale signs of developing into a veritable palace of muscle.
In an attempt to justify her roving eyes, Barbara asked, "Aren't you cold?" before raising her head to meet Paul's gaze.
Offering a wry smile, Paul replied, "I wasn't. Now that I'm out of bed, it is starting to feel a bit nippy."
Interpreting Paul's words to mean they had woken him up, Barbara hung her head in shame. However, before she could apologize, Paul extended his hand to gently raise her chin, asking, "What's the matter, pipit...?" in a tender, ostensibly concerned tone.
Regaining her smile, Barbara answered, "It's nothing. I just didn't know whether or not we would continue our training. I'm also...well, it's been a long time since I had to sleep alone..."
"Ah..."
Opening his door a bit wider, Paul left everyone in the hallway feeling at a momentary loss for words as he said, "Feel free to come inside and make yourselves at home. As for training...let's talk about that in the afternoon. Right now, I just want to relax and cut loose for a bit."
Though she waited for Paul to finish speaking, Barbara wasted no time before slipping into his room. Besides training and spending time with Paul, she didn't have much else to do. Since that was bound to change in the relatively near future, so she intended to spend as much time together as possible.
Seeing Barbara enter into Paul's room, Xinyan met Jean's gaze and gave a dismissive shrug, saying, "I mean...he did invite us..." before hurrying over. Before entering the room, however, she stood on the tips of her toes and gave Paul a quick peck on the cheek.
Exhaling a sigh, Jean turned to Xiangling to find the petite blunette staring at her with a wry smile on her face. Jean could tell she was about to offer an apology, so, before that, she softly muttered, "It's not like I was trying to force everyone apart..."
Offering a marginally more sincere smile, Xiangling made things a little easier for Jean by grabbing her wrist and whispering, "Let's go together." before promptly pulling her along. This left Diona as the only person left in the hall, her back still turned as she clutched the fabric of her dark blue, three-layered skirt.
Noticing the petite cat girl, Paul tarried for a moment before calling out, "You coming inside...?"
As if liberated from a spell of petrification, Diona turned around and said, "Hmph! I suppose if you're this desperate to have me enter your room, it would be rude of me to refuse."
Scurrying over to the entrance to Paul's room, Diona kept a close on his hands as she slipped past him and into the interior. Paul had tried to pet her without permission the previous day, so she ended up biting his hand. She had been feeling a little guilty since then, so the actual reason for her being up so early was because she wanted to wake him up and apologize before slipping into his bed. After all, she didn't actually mind him petting her; she just didn't like people touching her without asking...
Noticing the 'predatory' look Diona was giving his hand, Paul raised both to make it clear he wasn't going to try and touch her. Diona's tear-shaped brows furrowed in response, but as she would never request someone to pet her, she just poutily skimmed past him with another cute, "Hmph...!"
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Though he had intended to arrive a few days before his son's return to the Estate, Amarant had been delayed for various reasons. Inclimate weather was one, but the other was the red-headed woman seated silently across from him.
"While this was unexpected, you should regard it as an opportunity. My original intent was to source a wet nurse from the neighboring cities. Now that you are pregnant, you will share my wife's burden. In exchange, I will ensure both you and your child are properly cared for..."
Without so much as a single change in her expression, Flute respectfully lowered her head, answering, "I am honored by my Lord's consideration." in a calm, almost emotionless tone. In truth, she wanted to correct him by pointing out it was 'their' child, but such a faux pas could end disastrously for both her and her unborn child.
Exhaling a sigh, Amarant pinched the bridge of his nose as he muttered, "I have told you three times you need not bow to me in private quarters..."
Before Flute could attempt to apologize, Amarant dismissively waved his hand, saying, "No matter." before following it up by asking, "Do you feel ill right this instant...?"
Though she was tempted to lie and say yes, Flute's face began to heat up as she shook her head and softly replied, "No, my Lord...I am presently in good health..."
"Mmm..."
Opening the metal slot that allowed him to peer outside, Amarant did his best to estimate the time remaining until their arrival based on the familiar geography. He hated riding in carriages. Not only was it boring, but due to the rugged terrain, his lower back and bottom ached. Fortunately, he had discovered a 'life hack' several years prior...
Unfastening his belt, Amarant's expression and tone became severe yet impassioned as he said, "Come..."
Exhaling a hot sigh, Flute used the walls of the carriage to keep herself steady as she moved closer and turned her back to Amarant. In response, he hiked up her ankle-length dress to reveal a pair of expensive, cream-colored silk panties. They were something Flute would never be able to acquire under normal circumstances, but Amarant had her wear them as his model for Ningguang's product line.
Seeing the rather large stain on Flute's panties, Amarant offered a gruff but approving, "Excellent..." before pulling at the strings keeping them in place. When Flute's rear was exposed to him, he stopped to knead it for a few moments before opening his trousers to reveal his pride as a member of the Notos Greyrat family.
Feeling a familiar heat pressing against her, Flute's jaw began to tremble as Amarant guided her to sit on his thick, nearly 28cm long penis. The life hack he had discovered was using the bumpy road to passively increase the stimulation he and his partner experienced during intercourse. It was impractical during the Spring and Summer months, but with a thick layer of snow outside, it was an excellent way to stay warm and pass the time...
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"Master Paul...if it isn't too much trouble, I would like to go check on your mother..."
Though she didn't mind cuddling together in front of the hearth, Ganyu had gotten used to frequenting Valentine's room. She wasn't her servant or anything, but she proactively performed many of the same duties.
"Mmm..."
Raising his chin from Ganyu's head, Paul released her from his embrace as he said, "We'll go together. I'm sure my mother would enjoy the company."
Nodding her head in approval, Ganyu used Paul's knees to help her stand before extending a hand to help him up. He seemed to really like hugging her, so she had been sitting between his legs as he held her from behind and rested his head atop hers.
"Nyaa...!?"
As she had been resting her head against Paul's back, Diona was a little surprised when her support suddenly shifted. Fortunately, Xiangling and Xinyan had been sitting at Paul's sides, so they managed to catch her as she exclaimed, "What's the big idea, moving all of a sudden? Haven't you ever heard of a warning!?'"
Scratching the back of his head, Paul adopted a wry and apologetic smile as he said, "Sorry...it won't happen again..."
Snorting through her nose, Diona pulled her arms free from Xiangling and Xinyan, crossing them as she said, "It better not!"
"Diona..."
Hearing Jean say her name, Diona looked toward her asked, "What...?" in a slightly nervous tone. In her mind, Jean was still the Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius. She would sometimes appear to break up bar fights or deal with unruly customers, so Diona had a mixture of fear and respect for Mondstadt's most revered Knight.
Before Jean could chastise Diona for speaking to him rudely, Paul said, "It's fine, Jean...I prefer the bold yet adorable Diona. Besides, at least when we're alone together like this, I would prefer if everyone just acted like themselves..."
Though she exhaled a soft sigh, a sincere smile developed across Jean's face as she replied, "Of course..."
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After accompanying Ganyu and spending some time with his mother, Paul decided he would explore his family's massive, fortress-like Estate on his own. Jean, Barbara, Xiangling, and Xinyan offered to accompany him, but, as accustomed as he was of the four girls' presence, there were moments when he just wanted to be alone. At least, that's what he thought...
"It's no wonder other Nobles traipse about like perverted idiots...with the exceptions of work, training, and studying; there is literally nothing better to do..."
Though he could easily find someone willing to sit down and play a game of chess with him, Paul didn't think it invalidated his point. He was looking for something to do on his own, not impose upon others.
"You should feel grateful..."
Hearing a cold voice sound out from behind him, Paul replied, "Every day of my life. That doesn't mean I can't feel bored..."
Looking back, Paul was confused yet unsurprised to find Rosaria standing behind him. He had been able to 'sense' someone following him for quite some time, but they hadn't been radiating any hostility. The only people he could imagine doing something like that were Kaeya and Rosaria, so it made sense for the latter to appear when he started speaking aloud.
Squinting her eyes, Rosaria asked, "You knew I was here...?" in an aloof, accusatory tone.
"I still have a long way to go, so you shouldn't underestimate practitioners of the Water God Style."
Surprising Paul, Rosaria shook her head, asserting, "You're wrong. Though I risked discovery on three occasions, I was able to collect information on each of the Sword Saints employed by your father. My constitution makes it impossible for a normal person to detect me..."
Raising his brows, Paul asked, "You mean the grey skin thing? I always thought that was just a stylistic choice of the artist who created you...at least back in my world..."
"Mmm..."
Though she wasn't fond of the idea that someone from Paul's world had created and dictated the life of a version of her, Rosaria chose not to let it bother her. Instead, she remained silent for a few seconds before asking, "Tell me, Paul Notos Greyrat, what is it you expect at the end of the path you currently walk?"
Furrowing his brows, Paul took a moment to consider Rosaria's question before asking, "What do you mean?"
Pulling out a silvery dagger from somewhere around her thigh, Rosaria twirled it between the fingers of her left hand as she questioned, "When everything is said and done, where do you expect to end up? What are your goals? Do you intend to start a family? Will you proclaim yourself a King? An Emperor? A God? I want to know what drives you, what pushes the man named Paul Notos Greyrat forward..."
Though his eyes momentarily followed the dagger, Paul eventually met Rosaria's as he answered, "I honestly have no idea."
Spontaneously ceasing her twirling, Rosaria exhibited a rare change in expression, brows raised as she asked, "I beg your pardon?"
Helplessly shrugging his shoulders, Paul attempted to explain what he meant, revealing, "Before I was given access to the Intersection of Fate, the only things driving me forward were a desire to be strong enough to protect myself and meet certain people. Other than that, I just wanted to live my new life to the best of my ability. Asking me something like where I expect to be once this is all over...I honestly have no fucking idea. I just wanted to live an interesting life without devolving into a piece of shit..."
"..."
Expecting something a little more profound, Rosaria wasn't sure what to make of Paul's answer. It wasn't a bad answer, per se, but it wasn't the type of answer she expected from a man who could command even the so-called Gods to do his bidding...
While returning her dagger to its hidden sheathe, Rosaria squinted her eyes and asked, "One last thing...do you believe people deserve second chances?"
Exhaling a sigh, Paul crossed his arms before answering, "I believe some people do. It just depends on the situation. If they're not actively seeking redemption and only search for it once shit hits the fan, they deserve the same amount of mercy as their victims..."
Nodding her head, Rosaria muttered, "Well said..." before turning her back and walking away. After taking a few steps, however, she turned back and said, "I'm usually not one for praying, but I will do so in the hopes you live a long and prosperous life, Paul Notos Greyrat..."
"Thank you...?"
Not sure what else to say, Paul just followed Rosaria's departure until she vanished around a corner. He had expected her to ask if he wanted her to accompany him, so her sudden departure left him nearly as disappointed as he was confused...
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After roaming around the other sections of his family's massive Estate for the better part of three hours, Paul returned to his female-infested wing in search of food and companionship. What he didn't expect to encounter was Zhongli walking around with a book on her head, closely followed by more than a dozen young girls.
"Ah, Master Paul, what a pleasant surprise."
Removing the book from her head, Zhongli turned to the group of young girls and said, "We will reconvene in the first floor commons at 2 PM. Run along now."
After responding in the affirmative and bowing towards Paul, the group of girls quickly scurried off like a group of cluttered ducklings. In their haste, one of the younger girls even fell flat on her face. Fortunately, the others immediately helped her up before promptly pulling her along with them...
"..."
Seeing through Paul's thoughts, Zhongli explained, "Lady Ningguang has made a concerted effort to ingrain the image of Master Paul as a kind and benevolent Master who disdains the very thought of slavery. In the minds of these girls, you are the Hero who has spared them a life of misery and inequality. I imagine your appearance has also aided in their impression of you..."
Suppressing a sigh, Paul forced a smile as he asked, "And? Why did you send them running off? It's not as though I requested your assistance for anything..."
Impervious to Paul's standoffishness, Zhongli's expression retained a hint of amusement as she explained, "Ningguang asked me to bring you to her if our paths just so happened to cross. Shall we move along?"
Since he was planning to search for Ningguang once he had finished eating, Paul shrugged his shoulders in response to Zhongli's words. He could go a few more hours without eating, so he saw no reason to refuse.
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With Zhongli leading the way, Paul eventually found himself in the corridor outside his former library and study. Ningguang had evidently seized it for herself during his absence.
"She wasn't joking around when she said she would take everything that was mine..."
Amused by Paul's words, a faint yet reverberating chuckle emanated from Zhongli's throat as she pulled open the door without knocking. Ningguang had sensed them approaching thanks to her affiliation with the element of Geo, so she was already waiting patiently at her desk for their arrival.
Entering the room at Zhongli's behest, Paul's face immediately scrunched as a nostalgic yet severely out-of-place aroma tickled his nose.
"Have you been smoking weed...?"
Assuming weed was a colloquial term for processed hemp back in Paul's original world, Ningguang nodded her head before calmly answering, "Not enough to affect my mental state or cause harm to my body. I can stop if it displeases you, but as there are no laws against it, I would appreciate it if you allowed me to continue."
Though he shook his head in exasperation, Paul didn't say anything else regarding Ningguang's smoking habit. Instead, he just made his way over to one of the sofas in the room, sitting down before asking, "You wanted to see me?"
Seeing Paul make himself comfortable on the sofa rather than in the seat across from her, Ningguang was briefly reminded of her conversation with Jean. Paul didn't seem to be aware of it, but he had unconsciously placed himself into the 'superior' position by sitting further away and forcing her to come to him. Had he sat in the chair she had prepared, it would be the same as saying she was in charge. Instead, he made himself comfortable in a situation where others would have felt tense...
Rising from her seat, Ningguang made her way over to Paul before sitting at his side. She could have sat across from him, but she had already made her bed and intended to lay in it, asking, "What are Master Paul's thoughts on children...?"
"..."
Though he had expected Ningguang to broach the subject at some point, Paul hadn't expected it to be now. Fortunately, he had already rehearsed a response, answering, "They're adorable poop factories that can coo like an angel and scream like a banshee. More importantly, they're something only fully grown adults should concern themselves with..."
Instead of immediately refuting Paul's words, Ningguang nodded as if to agree with him. She actually wasn't all that fond of children, so she would prefer to adopt if it wasn't necessary to produce a legitimate heir.
Having rehearsed a response of her own, Ningguang remained silent for a few moments before stating, "Regardless of our views on the matter, this world will view us as young adults once you reach ten years of age. While I am okay with waiting a few years, our actions will be severely restricted until we produce an heir. It is one of the requirements for the Lordship, so, unless you've changed your mind about traveling, we will need to produce at least two children before you can venture out..."
Inhaling a deep breath, Paul allowed the tensions in his body to drain as he sank into the sofa. He had already considered everything Ningguang was currently mentioning. Before he gained access to the Intersection of Fate, he even anticipated being forced to marry and produce an heir. His situation had changed rather drastically since then, but it hadn't affected his 'duty' in the slightest.
"And if I just wanted to throw everything away and flee to the other side of the world...?"
Adopting a faint yet sincere smile, Ningguang rested her head on Paul's shoulder as she answered, "We would come with you and do everything in our power to ensure you're able to live the life you desire..."
Though he had half-expected Ningguang to say something along the lines of, "Sounds like fun," Paul wasn't surprised by her words. Zhongli had said something similar more times than he could count, so it wasn't strange to hear Ningguang express her 'support' for any decision he made. The hard part was actually making one...
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With introductions complete, Paul and Ningguang spent a bit of time discussing the matter of Princess Andromeda before parting ways. Paul was mentally and physically drained after ten days in a carriage, so, even though it was only 4:15 PM, he decided to turn in for the night.
Since Jean, Barbara, Xiangling, and Xinyan had other things to take care of, Paul half-expected to be able to sleep alone for the first time in nearly a year. Instead, Ganyu followed soundlessly behind him, and the moment he entered his room, Paul found one of the three missing people from the Maid lineup waiting for him.
"Welcome home, Master Paul..."
Like when she first greeted him, Ei was kneeling on the ground, the tips of her index fingers touching to create a 45-degree angle as she bowed low enough to have her bangs touch the floor. More surprisingly, at least from the perspective of Paul, was the fact she was wearing a lavender kimono with accents of dark purple.
Recovering from his momentary stupor, Paul adopted a faint smile as he said, "It's good to see you again, Ei. How have you been these past ten months...?"
Raising her head, Ei maintained a neutral yet uniquely resolute expression as she cooly replied, "Though I have become increasingly indebted to our comrades, I have been well. Thank you for asking."
Nodding his head, Paul took a moment to look around his room. It hadn't changed much in the past ten months, but he noticed a very distinct smell present within. His bed was also a mess, a tell-tale sign that someone had been sleeping in it while he was away.
Inhaling the flowery aroma, Paul could feel his body beginning to warm up as he tentatively inquired, "Have you...been staying in my room all this time...?"
"Guh..."
Lowering her head in shame, Ei begrudgingly explained, "Since I can't do much else, I was given the duty of protecting Master's chambers...please forgive me..."
Shaking his head, Paul said, "It's fine..." before stepping forward to help Ei stand. The aroma that had permeated his room was a bit overbearing, but it wasn't unpleasant. It reminded Paul of the greenhouse he and his father maintained in his previous world. His mother, before her death, had really enjoyed gardening. After her passing, his father filled the greenhouse with all of her favorite plants and flowers, dutifully maintaining them even after two decades...
Feeling nostalgic and a little lonesome, Paul's expression softened as he looked between the two budding beauties as he asked, "Care to join me for a nap...?"
Answering before Ganyu, Ei thumped her chest with a bit of conviction as she practically exclaimed, "It would be my honor!" As for Ganyu, she had noticed the melancholy within Paul, so, even though she already had the intention of acting as his hug pillow, her smile became particularly tender as she replied, "Of course..." in a soft, soothing tone.
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Shortly after parting with Paul, Ninggung elected to take a brief respite in her office. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy conversing with Paul, but it often left her feeling fatigued. She wasn't used to prioritizing others or having to restrict her actions in accordance with another's views, so, every now and then, she needed a moment to decompress.
Though she imagined it would trouble Paul quite a bit, Ningguang reclined in her custom-made chair and took a long drag from an expensive, white and gold pipe. The bowl was predominately packed with processed hemp, but it had been laced with trace amounts of opiates and a few stimulating herbs to help keep her focused.
Exhaling a long and thin line of hazy smoke, the tensions in Ningguang's body gradually relaxed as she sunk deeper into her chair. Now that Paul was back, many of the plans she had been drafting could finally be set in motion. This was a good thing, but, at the same time, it meant she would be away from the estate for nearly two months.&nbsp;
While two months might not sound like an exceptionally long time, it may as well be two years from Ningguang's perspective. She was a genius at delegating responsibilities to others, but her burgeoning operations were nowhere near the level where she could place others in charge. All it took was a few people spreading negative sentiments and refusing to put in an honest day's work for an irreversible chain reaction to start...
"I need Keqing and Yanfei here...Zhongli is reliable, but she lacks common sense. And I can't leave everything to Ganyu and Xingqiu..."
Inhaling another lungful of smoke, Ningguang held it for a moment before exhaling through her nose and muttering, "At least Paul is sensible enough to give me free rein...his father though..."
Thinking of 'Lord' Amarant, Ningguang couldn't help rolling her eyes. The man wasn't nearly as bad as he could be, but the 'common sense' of the Asura Kingdom was deeply ingrained into the core of his being. He wasn't much of a 'threat' at the present moment, but Ningguang had noticed him observing even her with a thoughtful yet libidinous gaze. Had she and the others appeared in their original forms, it wasn't even a question whether or not he would harass or assault them.&nbsp;
Though she had no intentions of killing him, Ningguang knew she had to get rid of Paul's father sooner rather than later. Paul's sensibilities made him troublesome to deal with, but they also made him remarkably easy to convince. He would also have no choice but to travel in the future, so, as long as she could deal with Amarant, the entire Milbots Region would fall under her control.
"The problem is convincing my darling fiance to fulfill his responsibility at the appropriate time..."
Though she both understood Paul's and had apprehensions of her own, Ningguang would prefer they tie the knot and get to 'baking' as quickly as possible. Unless he ran away from home, jeopardizing everything she was currently working on, Paul's family would never allow him to travel before he had produced an heir.
One of the things Ningguang was currently worried about was Paul using their marriage as an excuse to delay things until he believed they were of an 'appropriate' age. That would severely inconvenience both of them, so even if Paul were against it, Ningguang would find a way to 'convince' him.
Fortunately, as much as she disdained them, Ningguang had the laws and culture of the world on her side. People also seemed to mature quite a bit faster than in her previous world, so much so that she had mistaken many 10-12-year-olds as 14-16-year-olds. Lilia was an excellent example of this, as, despite being just over seven years old, certain parts of her body were already beginning to fill out while others had started to contract.
*tok* *tok* *tok*
"Hmmm...?"
Since it was pretty rare for anyone to knock on her door, the faces of four people crossed Ningguang's mind before she called out, "Jean...?" without attempting to hide her pipe.
Leaving Ningguang feeling a little delighted, the door opened to reveal a somewhat surprised Jean standing outside, asking, "Were you expecting me?"
Before answering Jean's question, Ningguang inhaled from her pipe one final time before capping it off and placing it within a long silver container. Then, as if a switch had been flipped within her mind, the haze faded from her eyes as she cooly replied, "Of course. While I consider myself and the Archons to be the most dedicated to our cause, you are inarguably one of the most dutiful within our group. I would have been far more surprised if you hadn't sought me out to give a report."
Though she took a moment to observe the thick cloud lingering near the ceiling, Jean didn't say anything about it. Instead, she made her way over to Ningguang's desk before producing a small journal, explaining, "This is a record of events that took place at the Academy. While there are bound to be a few gaps, I believe it should suffice for your purposes?"
Accepting the journal, Ningguang took a moment to peruse some of the pages before nodding her head in approval and saying, "To be perfectly honest, this is beyond my expectations. I presumed the Grandmaster of the Knights of Favonius to be capable, but the concise yet detailed nature of your reports is beyond exemplary. If you didn't have such an important mission, I would have wanted to make you my Secretary..."
Setting aside the journal, Ningguang gestured for Jean to take a seat as she asked, "Speaking of which, how are things progressing between you and our Master? I assume you've written about it, but I've come to find that certain matters are better discussed in person..."
Having anticipated Ningguang's inquiry, Jean only hesitated for a brief moment before answering, "It's difficult to put into words...while I have developed a definitive affection for Master Paul, there is also a certain feeling of distance between us. I initially thought I was simply jealous of his burgeoning relationship with other girls, but the most recent incident with Princess Andromeda has caused me to reevaluate many things..."
"Oh? And have you reached any conclusions...?"
Though she was interested to know the specifics of Paul's encounter with the Princess, Ningguang was far more interested in Jean than some stray Royal from another country. Jean, at least in her eyes, was worth at least three, maybe even five Crown Princesses...
"I think we underestimated Master Paul's convictions...I'm not sure if it's because of something we did or because his confidence is increasing, but he appears to be changing into someone...different than the man I initially considered him to be. There is now a certain...gravitas about him...an aura that both distinguishes and elevates him above normal people..."
Blinking in surprise, Ningguang took a moment to look back on her most recent interactions with Paul. She had also noticed he was a bit strange, but, perhaps due to him deferring to her on nearly every matter, she just interpreted it as him becoming more mature.
"Do you think it will become a problem...?"
Though she wanted to shake her head, Jean's brows furrowed for a brief moment before she answered, "Perhaps...while I also believe it's a good thing, Master Paul's growing confidence and desire to help people might jeopardize our mission if he acts recklessly. I don't think it will happen any time soon, but I can imagine him declaring war on the Asura Kingdom at some point within the next ten to twenty years..."
Catching Jean by surprise, Ningguang remarked, "Oh, is that all? Then it shouldn't be a problem. The Asura Kingdom was bound to try and meddle with us. Master Paul's beliefs and convictions have no meaningful impact on that fact. So long as he doesn't go storming into the Royal Capital on his own, it's okay if he develops a bit of a hero complex. In fact, that's one of the reasons I decided to keep Minne. Once Master Paul matures, I plan to have him escort her back to the Great Forest. By the time he returns, I should have everything in place to either take over the Asura Kingdom or start our own..."
Overwhelmed by Ningguang's assertions, Jean found herself with her mouth agape and a completely stupefied expression on her face. She had heard rumors about Ningguang back in their world, but she never thought the woman was so...ambitious...
"It's no wonder Master Paul so readily placed you in charge..."
Squinting her eyes in satisfaction, Ningguang playfully mused, "You're going to make me blush..."
Contrasting Ningguang's words, her complexion was precisely as fair as it had always been. The only three things to ever make her blush were the first time she saw two dogs having sex, the first time she visited a public bathhouse, and the time Keqing walked in on her when she was feeling a little gassy.
Simply put, with very few exceptions, Ningguang only showed people the expressions she wanted them to see. Jean and Paul were no exception...
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..
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Chapter 38: MI38: Interpose