Mushoku Impact

Just as Paul was beginning to wonder if they had stayed in the bath a little too long, a young girl with pale purple hair, even paler skin, and vibrant, purple-pink eyes entered into the room, stating, "Master Paul, everything has been prepared."
"Right. Thank you, Qiqi."
"Nn..."
Having carried out her mission, Qiqi promptly departed the bath to return to the party venue. When she was gone, Paul returned his attention to the bronze-skinned girl seated between his legs, saying, "Time to go."
"Boooo..."
While the others were beginning to feel a little lightheaded due to the extremely warm water, Xinyan could stay in the bath for hours at a time. Unfortunately for her, Paul had no intention of boiling himself, so, after a moment of Xinyan refusing to get up, he rose of his own accord...
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After changing into a fresh set of clothes and waiting for the girls to help Ei get dressed, Paul meandered his way towards the East Wing. He would be lying if he said he wasn't excited, but, at the same time, Paul couldn't help feeling as though his time was running out. Thus, even though it was colder than a witch's tit between the bathhouse and the back entrance to the Estate, he enjoyed the frigid yet refreshing air with a relaxed smile on his face.
"Welcome home, Master Paul~!"
With the girls leading the way, it wasn't long before Paul found himself in a small gallery that also served as a banquet hall. There, nearly every one of his summons had gathered in variations of the outfits they wore back in their previous world of Teyvat. It was astonishingly surreal, even though Paul had long since gotten used to the cel-shaded graphics of his present life.
Appearing in a courtly black, gold, and predominately white gown that left much of her increasingly long legs bared, Ningguang habitually linked her hand through Paul's arm in order to guide him to his seat. Paul had a habit of walking around and trying to greet everyone when he initially arrived at parties, so Ningguang did her best to take him to where he 'needed' to be.
With Paul occupying the seat of honor, a large wooden throne with space enough for three people, the banquet/party could officially begin. To that end, Yun Jin appeared atop a stage prepared at the center of the hall, the lights dimming before a sound reminiscent of Japanese instruments filled the gallery. Back in her previous world, Yun Jin was the most prestigious singer and dancer at the Heyu Tea House. She had also been the Director of the Yun-Han Opera Troupe, so she had trained a handful of servants to play instruments so she could perform.
While Paul hadn't been particularly interested in things like flag dances and kabuki performances in his previous world, he had learned to enjoy them quite a bit in this one. Yun Jin was extremely passionate about her art, so while he preferred watching Eula dance and listening to Barbara sing as he used her lap as a pillow, Paul enjoyed the petite, almost doll-like girl's performance. He did, however, feel a little bad when he got a hell of a lot more excited for Xinyan's shamisen guitar solo...
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"You want to travel to the Sword Sanctum for training...?"
With the party coming to an end after three and a half hours, Paul was seated within Ningguang's study, the latter sitting astride atop his lap while Ganyu prepared tea off to the side.
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul stated, "I've already discussed the matter with my father. Shortly after my tenth birthday celebration, I plan to set out for the Sword Sanctum with Ei, Jean, Barbara, Razor, Eula, and anyone else who wants to travel up North."
Seeing through to Paul's innermost thoughts, Ningguang asked, "Are you trying to intercept that Ghislaine woman?"
Instead of getting defensive and denying it, Paul nodded his head, saying, "With all the decisions that have basically been made for me, I wanted to respect at least one of my original goals for this world. Even if she ignores or beats the shit out of me, I would at least like try and make her mine..."
"Hooooo...you've become a lot bolder these past ten months. Jean was right to suggest I send Eula with you..."
Smiling despite the insinuation he had been plotted against, Paul asked, "So? What do you think...?"
"Hmmm..."
Instead of answering Paul's question, Ningguang glanced down at her present form. She had already started puberty and looked a fair bit older than ten, but the notion of carrying a child when she had just entered her rapid growth period wasn't exactly pleasant.
"You said two years...?"
"Give or take. My actual goal is to develop my Touki and reach Saint Rank in the Sword God Style. Without the Longsword of Light, I'll be vulnerable against those who can use it."
"And what of the Adventurer's Guild? Once you reach the age of ten, you should be able to register."
Shaking his head, Paul explained, "I plan to stop by, but I'm not going to get into adventuring until I'm confident I can sufficiently protect myself. I don't want to leave everything to people like Ei and Jean while I just sit on the sidelines like a supporting character..."
"Mmm...very well..."
Though she felt he was taking unnecessary risks, Ningguang understood Paul's desire to be the 'main character' of his own life. She had even come to respect it a bit, so, as long as Paul didn't do anything foolish like asking to travel alone, she didn't mind if he was a little rash and self-indulgent.
"Just make sure to take Xiangling and with you. She hasn't said anything, but I can tell she has been feeling a little 'useless' as of late. She might not be able to learn anything at the Sword Sanctum, but she can prepare meals for your party and help care of Ei. If the opportunity arises, you can also 'convince' her of her value using other means..."
"Right..."
Instead of refuting Ningguang's words as he might have in the past, Paul just nodded his head in both affirmation and acceptance. He had held out for quite a while, but it wouldn't be long before his life became a mirror of the original Paul's. He might not be sleeping with a bunch of random girls, but his bed was bound to be filled with dozens of beauties over the next five to ten years...
Catching Paul by surprise, Ningguang softly inquired, "Who do you want to lose your virginity to...?"
Though it was purely coincidental, at least from Paul's perspective, his eyes briefly met Ganyu's. In reality, Ningguang had timed her question at the exact moment that Ganyu was handing them tea. She would prefer it if Paul's first partner in this life were someone gentle and service-minded rather than someone more selfish. Paul may not be a virgin, but if his first partner from the IOF was someone like Barbara, Ningguang felt as though things would become unnecessarily complicated.
Sensing the sudden surge of Paul's emotions as their gazes met, a faint blush spread through Ganyu's cheeks as she maintained eye contact and said, "If Master thinks I'm worthy...my heart is prepared..."
Having shed most of her 'baby fat' and changed into an outfit not all that dissimilar to the skin-tight garments she wore in her previous life, Ganyu had a very dangerous allure to her. She still had a ways to go before she regained her original appearance, but her charm was such that the Royal Family would 'demand' her inclusion into the Palace of Concubines if she ever appeared in public.
Strengthening Ganyu's chances, Ningguang whispered, "If you miss this opportunity, it would be years before you see each other again...are you truly willing to shun Ganyu's devotion just for a possibility of sleeping with some random girl you've never even met...?"
Though he had no intentions of sleeping with Ghislaine, at least not any time soon, Paul would be lying if he said Ningguang's words didn't affect him. Ganyu really was a very dutiful woman, so much so that Paul almost wished he could just take her wherever he went. If she had been the one to accompany him to the Academy, he might have already lost his faux v-card...
Like the Devil, or perhaps a Succubus, Ningguang pulled at the remnants of Paul's sensibilities, her voice a sultry purr as she said, "You wouldn't condemn members of the Migurdia Tribe for having intercourse, so why would you hold a three thousand year old Adeptus to a higher standard? Ganyu has been a maiden for more than three thousand years...don't you think she deserves some love...?"
Swallowing hard, Paul found himself at a complete loss for words. The things Ningguang was saying made a scary amount of sense. Mushoku Tensei was a world where Magical Races such as Hobbits, Migurdians, and a few subspecies of Demons resembled human children even after hundreds of years. He certainly wouldn't condemn them for procreating, so why was he so apprehensive about having sex with someone well over three thousand years old when she wasn't even human? The only reason she even looked as she did was because of him...
Making things both easier and exponentially harder on Paul, Ganyu's eyes lowered to the insuppressible tent in his trousers as she softly whispered, "Though you may think lesser of me for it...I have been looking forward to becoming one with Master. Ever since our very first encounter...I sincerely believed you were a man worthy of dedicating my everything to..."
With Paul saying nothing to stop her, Ganyu slowly unfastened the belt of his trousers, her purple-pink eyes glazing over slightly as the blush in her cheeks spread to the tips of her ears. She was more than a little nervous, but, at the same time, she was excited to experience what had compelled her mother to love a mortal man so many years ago...
Feeling a maddening fervor permeating his body, Paul's wavering eyes remained fixed on Ganyu as he said, "This is an order, Ningguang...if you or anyone else spiked my drink, tell me now..."
Tearing away the last vestiges of Paul's restraint, a sultry and amused chuckle emanated from Ningguang's throat as she placed her lips to his ear and whispered, "We spiked our own drinks with a mild sedative...this, these emotions you're currently experiencing, are entirely your own..."
As if to punctuate Ningguang's soul-shaking words, Ganyu managed to loosen Paul's trousers enough to unleash his not-so-little brother. It still had several years to grow, but it was already pushing fifteen centimeters when flaccid and twenty when erect. As strange as it sounded, it actually made Paul feel a little self-conscious as girls like Xinyan and Barbara had made minimal effort to conceal their increasingly fervid gazes whenever they bathed together...
Causing an awkward chuckle to emanate from Paul's throat, Ganyu, in her characteristically serene tone, calmly affirmed, "It's big..." before directing her watery eyes at him and asking, "May I...?"
Though he felt like his psyche was on the verge of fragmenting into tens of thousands of pieces, Paul managed an awkward smile as he answered, "Sure..." in an audibly shaky tone.
Returning a far more radiant and sincere smile, Ganyu tentatively reached forward to grab the base of Paul's inordinately prominent member as she muttered a heartfelt, "Thank you, Master...I might be inexperienced, but I promise to do my best..."
"Yeah..."
Not sure what else to say or do, a problem he hadn't experienced since he initially lost his virginity, Paul just stared in silence as Ganyu slowly figured things out. When she did, several waves of guilt immediately washed over Paul's mind, but they were quickly suppressed by far more prominent yet fleeting emotions...
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"I may have underestimated the genes of the Greyrat families..."
Even after several minutes had passed, Ningguang could barely retain her focus as she stared up at the ceiling with an absentminded expression on her face. She was covered in sweat, and, despite taking a medicine that was supposed to dull a person's senses, everything from her brain to her toes was tingling with a pleasant numbness.
Though he heard Ningguang's remark, Paul continued staring blankly into the hearth crackling a few meters away. He felt like he had just crossed a dangerous line, but the thing that frightened him the most was the fact he didn't really care. He had apprehensions near the beginning and regretted it once everything had calmed down, but, during the act, he had been just as much of a beast as his father...
Seeing Paul lost in his thoughts, a steamy yet exasperated sigh escaped Ningguang's throat as she rolled onto her side. She wanted to try and sit up, but her legs were completely numb.&nbsp;
"I should have learned Healing Magic..."
Placing her hand on her abdomen, Ningguang concentrated on the hot sensation deep within her as she traced her index finger around the tiny Geo Symbol inscribed above her uterus. The symbol immediately pulsed to life, and, moments later, the unpleasant stickiness between her thighs completely vanished as the semen coating her body and insides turned to pale golden light.
Though he had noticed the elemental symbols inscribed on all of the girls' lower abdomens, seeing the light out of the corner of his eyes compelled Paul to ask, "Is that like a contraceptive or something...?"
Shaking her head, Ningguang forced herself to a seated position before explaining, "While it can certainly be used that way, its actual purpose is a little different. Hmmm..."
Though she had anticipated Paul's question, Ningguang was feeling more than a little spaced out at the present moment. Her only consolation was that Paul had likely gone easy on her. At least that's what she felt seeing an Adeptus like Ganyu sprawled out, completely unconscious.
"Think of it as a converter...for one reason or another, the semen of men in this world is rich with mana. What these seals do is convert mana into elemental energy. In other words, it's kind of like a battery that allows us to use our powers even without an Archon. Since there was no guarantee you would summon an Archon any time soon, these were inscribed on our bodies as a failsafe of sorts..."
"Yeah...that sounds about right..."
Recalling the mana drought incident, Paul wasn't even remotely surprised by Ningguang's words. Everything about the IOF seemed geared towards making him into a pervert or a degenerate. At this point, he wouldn't even be surprised if it was revealed he needed to produce a certain number of offspring in order to strengthen the connection between Mushoku Tensei and the world of Teyvat...
Snuggling up next to Paul, Ningguang waited nearly a minute for him to link his arm around her before asking, "Do you regret gaining access to the IOF?"
"Not really..."
Surprised by Paul's listless yet immediate response, Ningguang was about to ask more, but he beat her to the punch, adding, "The only thing I regret is making use of it so soon. These last few years feel like a blur, and even though I've gotten far more powerful, I feel like a background character in my own life...a footnote in someone else's story..."
"Hmm..."
Instead of immediately responding to Paul's words, Ningguang placed her head against his shoulder and just enjoyed the warmth from both his body and the nearby hearth. He was her partner in more than name now, so she felt compelled to help bolster his confidence. No powerful woman wanted a partner without a bit of backbone...
After quickly organizing her thoughts, Ningguang stated, "I believe you're mistaken...instead of viewing yourself as a character within the story, you should consider the possibility that you're the author. After all, if you were to tell us to burn down the Notos Estate or wreak havoc across the entire world, we would be forced to comply. Thus, instead of comparing yourself to us, you should be thinking about how you can use us to bring about the ending you want to see..."
Though he opened his mouth to speak, Paul found himself at a genuine loss for words. His situation hadn't actually changed, but if he looked at things from Ningguang's perspective, he was no longer a character within the story but the person dictating it. He would never do such a thing, but if he ordered her to grab the nearby poker, heat it in the hearth, and stab it into herself, she really would have no choice but to obey. She was able to bring an entire Region under her control in less than four years, but she was still at his mercy...
Exhaling a sigh, Paul found himself caressing his forehead and temples as he groaned, "I think swinging around a sword for 10-12 hours a day might have turned me stupid..."
Amused by Paul's self-deprecating remark, a soft chuckle emanated from Ningguang's throat. His words prompted her to tease him, but before she was able to, Ningguang was left at a loss of her own as Paul stated, "You should be careful with your words and actions in the future...now that we have already crossed the line, I'm tempted to punish you for all the times you were cheeky..."
"..."
Though she knew Paul was messing with her, Ningguang had detected a hint of genuine caution in his tone. She doubted he would do anything too extreme, but she could imagine him spanking her or crushing her beneath his body as he had done to Ganyu. The latter appeared to enjoy it quite a bit, but Ningguang couldn't help feeling a tad sheepish after what she had endured not long ago...
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Departing Ningguang's office shortly after Ganyu had awoken, Paul felt as though a substantial weight had been removed from his shoulders. He still felt like he had crossed a line he shouldn't have, but it wasn't like he could go back in time and unfuck the two girls. The more pressing concern was whether or not he should just throw his inhibitions to the wind and do the same with others. He could think of at least eight girls who would jump at the chance...
As if on cue, Barbara literally popped out of a wall via a concealed service hatch, a pouty expression on her face and the tell-tale sign of dried tears staining her cheeks.
Preempting anything the somewhat possessive sword maiden might say, Paul stated, "Make no mistake, Pipit. I care for you immensely. If I didn't think it would make me sound like a hypocritical asshole, I would tell you that I love you ten thousand times over. I just can't do that to you..."
Hanging her head, a fresh batch of tears began to pool in the corners of Barbara's eyes as she muttered, "I hate this...even though I understand what's at stake, I can't help wanting to keep you to myself..."
Feeling a twinge in his heart, Paul reached to caress Barbara's cheek but stopped himself halfway. He wanted to comfort her, but, as the principal source of her pain, he wasn't sure he had the right.
Fortunately for Paul, Barbara made things significantly easier by throwing her arms around him and crying into his chest. It made him feel a hell of a lot worse, but at least he didn't have to think too deeply about things; he just needed to console the girl crying in his arms...
("Well, here goes nothing...")
"Wise...men...say...only fools rush in...
But I...can't...help...falling in love...with...you..."
Hearing Paul suddenly begin singing, Barbara's crying almost immediately stopped. His voice had started to deepen as he matured, so while he was a bit pitchy, his song had the rich quality that could only be achieved with a low, baritone voice...
"Shall...I...stay? Would it be...a....sin...
If I...can't...help...falling in love...with...you...?
Like a river flows...
Surely to the sea...
Darling, so it goes...
Some things...are meant to be...
So...
Take...my...hand...
Take my whole...life...too...
For I...can't...help...falling in love...with...you..."
Though there were still a lot of words to the song, Paul allowed his voice to trail off as he rocked Barbara in his arms. This was the first time he had ever sung to someone, so a single verse and chorus were the limit of what his psyche could handle.
"I didn't know you could sing..."
Chuckling softly in response to Barbara's words, an affectionate smile developed across Paul's face as he whispered, "Anyone can sing...what matters is that it comes from the heart..."
"I want a baby..."
"..."
Feeling as though he had just received a punch in the gut, Paul's smile became cramped as he asked, "Right now...?"
Shaking her head, Barbara ceased squeezing Paul as if her life depended on it, eyes still watery as she stared up at him and answered, "No...I just don't want that woman to be the only one with your child. It isn't right for a baby to be born for the sake of convenience..."
Though he honestly didn't want to be a father at all, Paul nodded his head and said, "Sure...once things settle down and we manage to restore your world, let's find a nice place in the country to start a family...I can't say for sure that we'll be the only ones there, but I'm willing to work my ass off to make things work..."
Since she knew at least four people who loved Paul nearly as much as she did, Barbara also couldn't imagine them living alone. Xiangling and Xinyan had practically become her sisters at this point, so she would feel guilty if she tried cutting them off from Paul. As for her actual sister, Jean, Barbara didn't want to admit it, but the two of them probably loved Paul about the same amount. Jean was just a lot better at concealing her emotions...
"That's fine...as long as we can be together without having to worry about anything 'bigger' than our family, I'm fine if there are other girls there with us...just promise me you'll give me a baby before Jean..."
Shaking his head, Paul said, "I'm not going to make such a promise. If Jean is one of the people who ends up staying with us, we'll discuss it together...as a family."
Though she would have preferred it if Paul had lied to her, a faint smile developed across Barbara's face. She knew her request was more than a little selfish, so she didn't blame Paul for shutting her down. Instead, she left him reeling a second time by asking, "Since you did it with Ganyu and Ningguang...does that mean...you know...?"
Resisting the almost instinctual temptation to say no, Paul held Barbara closer as he questioned, "You were seventeen back in Teyvat, so you'll be turning twenty-one in a few months, right?"
Nodding her head in affirmation, Barbara meekly replied, "My birthday is July 5th...in this world, that's the seventh month..."
Though he realized he had never mentioned how dates worked in his past world, Paul figured that could wait till later. For now, he surprised Barbara by picking her up in a bridal carry and asking, "Are you sure you're ready?"
Dealing yet another critical blow to Paul, Barbara balled her hands into fists, a terrifyingly serious expression on her face as she assured, "Don't worry. If something bad happens, I can always cast Regeneration Magic or X-Healing...!"
Smiling with a bit of incredulity in his expression, Paul began carrying Barbara toward her room as he remarked, "That...good to know...?" in a helpless tone. He didn't know what Barbara imagined when she thought of sex, but it was apparently pretty intense...
("This is going to be a long night...")
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Parting with his father, Paul was prepared to return to the East Wing but found his path blocked by a petite girl with cerulean blue eyes and muted, golden-blonde hair.
Though his body briefly tensed due to the girl appearing just after he left his father's room, almost like she had been trying to jump scare him, Paul quickly regained his smile as he said, "It's good to see you, Barbara."
Seeing Paul spread his arms, a bit of the severity in Barbara's expression faded away as she obediently stepped into his embrace, saying, "I missed you..." in a sincere yet melancholic tone.
"I know...and I'm sorry for leaving you alone so often..."
"Mmm..."
Nestling her face into Paul's chest, an action made easier by the fact she was nearly twenty centimeters shorter, Barbara surprised Paul by quietly muttering, "It's okay...I realized how selfish I was back then. I'll probably get jealous in the future, but I'm a little better now..."
Hugging the petite girl a little tighter, Paul nestled the lower half of his face into Barbara's hair, kissing the top of her head before pulling away to say, "You've grown..."
"Speak for yourself..."
Raising her head, Barbara stared into Paul's face as she asked, "How are you so tall? Aren't girls supposed to hit their growth spurts before boys?"
Adopting a faintly wolfish smile, Paul teased, "Who knows...? I've always been a big boy..."
Though it took her a moment to understand the hidden meaning within Paul's words, Barbara's cheeks blushed a faint shade of red as she softly muttered, "Naughty..." However, the thing that stood out most about this was the faint smile on her face.
"I'm certainly getting there..."
Emphasizing his point, Paul lowered his hands to the small of her back, just above her butt. She had a stylish tailcoat and was covered in several layers of fabric, but the proximity of his hands to her butt was enough to cause Barbara's face to turn bright red.
Unfortunately, while he was half-tempted to take things a step further, Paul punctuated the encounter with a fleeting kiss before releasing his hold on the befuddled beauty and saying, "We should head back. If I'm not mistaken, you snuck out to meet with me sooner, right?"
Lowering her head and averting her eyes, Barbara muttered, "Ningguang isn't the boss of me..." in a pouty tone.&nbsp;
"Barbara..."
Extending his hand for the pouty Knight Princess to grab, Paul waited until she did before beginning to lead her down the hall as he said, "Ningguang is doing her best to ensure the success of our mission. While I understand your reasons, try not to butt heads with her too much...okay?"
Having already reached a secret agreement with Ningguang, Barbara just nodded her head in response to Paul's words. She had been permitted to become one of the first people to accompany Paul when he ventures out into the world. The penultimate decision was Paul's to make, but Barbara refused to believe Paul would set out on a long journey without her. If he did, she would just follow him of her own accord...
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After reaching his section of the Estate, Paul was surprised to find the only two people waiting for him were Diona and Razor.
"Ah. Master Paul. You're back. Welcome home."
Though he had gotten used to Razor being a tomboyish girl with wild, remarkably long grey hair and carmine eyes, Paul couldn't help smiling wryly as he asked, "How have you been, Razor? Keeping the plantations free of pests and rodents...?"
Nodding her head, Razor maintained a completely serious expression on her face as she answered, "Razor kill big monster. Master's Lupical gives Razor big reward. Lots of meat."
Raising his brows, Paul looked to Barbara and Diona for a more detailed explanation. The latter had a characteristically pouty expression on her face, but she still explained, "A boar with Wyvern blood came down the Red Dragon Mountains. Razor was the one to deal the killing blow, but a lot of us worked together to weaken it with our bows."
Understanding that Diona was fishing for a compliment, Paul made an impressed expression as he remarked, "Wow. Excellent job, Diona, Razor. I'm proud of you."
Since the 'bestowal of praise' was one of the conditions that not only allowed but 'mandated' him to provide head pats, Paul punctuated his words by caressing Diona's and Razor's heads. The latter lacked bestial features, but her animalistic nature caused most people to regard her in the same light as a member of the Beast Race.
Grabbing Paul's wrist to stop him from retracting his hand, Diona squinted her eyes in satisfaction as she explained, "We're still working on the feast to celebrate your homecoming. For now, you should head to the bath and get yourself cleaned up. You wreak of alcohol and sweat."
Chuckling dryly in response to Diona's opposing words and actions, Paul answered, "Will do." before waiting for her to release his hand of her own accord. She would never admit it, but Diona 'really' liked having her head, back, and pretty much every part of her body caressed. The only notable exceptions were her tail, butt, and a few other dangerous areas Paul had never dared to venture.
"You coming along?"
Exhaling a sigh, Barbara shook her head and said, "I'm supposed to be preparing for the feast as well. I just couldn't wait to see you, so I snuck out when no one was looking."
Nodding his head in approval, Paul extended his hand to caress Barbara's head as well, saying, "Good girl..." before planting a kiss atop her head. An awkward smile developed across her face, but she didn't attempt to slap his hand away. Instead, she directed him to caress her right cheek as she said, "I'll see you at the feast..."
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With no one accompanying him, Paul started to wonder if he would be taking a solo bath for the first time in five years. It was a little strange to consider, but, ever since he had summoned Xiangling, there had always been at least one girl accompanying him in the bath. Now, the thought of bathing alone just felt...wrong.
Fortunately, at least one person had nothing to contribute to the feast preparations. Thus, when he entered the bathhouse to find Ei waiting patiently for his arrival, Paul wasn't even remotely surprised. What did surprise him was the presence of Eula, Lynette, Xinyan, and a ponytailed girl with pale, strawberry blonde hair and golden eyes.
"Ei, Xinyan, Yoimiya...it's good to see you all. Not that I'm not equally pleased to see the two of you..."
Directing his last couple of words towards Eula and Lynette, just for good measure, Paul managed to avoid inadvertently offending both. Eula was a 'very serious' girl who, if he were being perfectly honest, reminded Paul a little of Drax the Destroyer due to how she interpreted everything literally. As for Lynette...Paul honestly hadn't figured her out just yet. She was a lot like Diona, just...cattier...
"Welcome ba-"
Before Ei could return Paul's greeting, Xinyan interrupted, asserting, "It's about time you showed up, Paul! We haven't even entered the bath, and I'm already starting to get a little pruney. Let me guess; Barbara tracked you down, didn't she...?"
Instead of answering Xinyan's question, Paul began to unbutton his tunic, noting, "Your hair has grown a lot since we last met, Xinyan...it suits you."
Losing much of her bravado, Xinyan became markedly more bashful as she combed through the fringe of her bangs and muttered, "Well...you're the one who said I looked better with my hair down..."
"Mmm...if I remember correctly, I said you looked charming with your hair down and badass with your hair up. Either way, you look great..."
Feeling her face heat, more so due to Paul stripping than his actual words, Xinyan quickly turned around, hands cupping her fiery red cheeks as she remarked, "Geez, Paul...you really learned how to talk these past couple a' months..."
Directing her gaze to Eula and Lynette, Xinyan asked, "I wonder if you two had anything to do with it...?"
Before Eula could respond with one of her trademark absurds, Ei injected herself back into the conversation by calmly asking, "Master, may I have the privilege of washing your body?"
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul replied, "Sounds good." as he tossed his tunic into a nearby bin and started to remove his black undertunic. He noticed an oppressive silence promptly descend upon the changing room but pretended not to as he stripped off his undertunic, exposing his bare and increasingly muscular form. He still had a lot of room for growth, but he was filling out remarkably well...
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After entering the bath, Paul had Xinyan and Yoimiya apprise him of what they had been doing the past ten months while Ei awkwardly washed his body and periodically got soap in his eyes.
Though both girls had continued their training, their reliance on Visions and general lack of hostility towards others meant Xinyan and Yoimiya were improving much slower than the more battle-oriented members of the group. Xinyan had even given up the claymore entirely, inspired by Barbara to specialize in something radically different than her past self.
Fortunately, much like Barbara, Xinyan had also obtained quite a number of Constellations. In fact, alongside Yaoyao, Yanfei, and Fischl, she was one of the few who had awakened her third Constellation.
With a fair amount of guidance from Yanfei, Xinyan had learned how to use a Catalyst. More importantly, she had already mastered most of the Beginner and Intermediate Fire Magic Spells. She was still struggling to master Chantless Casting, but her increasing familiarity with a Catalyst was helping.
A stark contrast to Xinyan, Yoimiya had decided to immerse herself even deeper into her specialty, firework production. Fireworks were frequently used during festivals in the Asura Kingdom, but their quality was poor due to a prohibition that prevented the research and study of propellants such as Black Powder. The Royal Family didn't want people experimenting with explosives, so unless you belonged to an extremely hazardous unit within the Royal Military, you would never be allowed access to black powder or the production method for fireworks.
Fortunately for Yoimiya, one of the people Paul had summoned was none other than Albedo. She had also memorized all of her family's production methods, including the formula for high explosives. It took the better part of two years, but she had recently developed a commercial-grade version of dynamite that was currently being used in a few mines Ningguang had failed to disclose to the Royal Family.
Though she still practiced with her bow, much of what made Yoimiya an exceptional archer was related to her Vision. Paul had been exceptionally lucky in regards to his summoning of Archons, even managing to secure a Constellation for Zhongli, but he was still missing four of the Seven. Until he managed to summon Murata, the Pyro(Fire) Archon, Yoimiya was just an ordinary, albeit very, very talented archer...
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"When do you plan to tell him? If you won't, I'll have to..."
"Hmm..."
Turning to look behind her, Zhongli, now appearing as a young girl closer to fourteen rather than ten, locked eyes with the bronze-skinned, dark-haired girl standing behind her. Their respective golden eyes glistened for a few moments, almost as if they were about to attack one another, but it only lasted for a fleeting moment as Zhongli answered, "Soon. I just didn't want to place an even greater burden on our Master before he was ready. Once he crosses the line into adulthood, I will broach the subject at the earliest possible convenience..."
Nodding her head in approval, the bronze-skinned girl stated, "Very well, Morax. I will continue to entrust this matter to you. However, should you fail to inform him before he summons Murata...well, just don't expect me to pick up the pieces..."
Squinting her eyes, Zhongli could feel her right index finger twitching with the desire to manifest her spear. Instead, she remained silent for several seconds before answering, "I'll keep that in mind...Lady Kusanali..."
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Chapter 44: MI44: Breaking Point