Mushoku Impact

Though he had expected Paul's group to be decently powerful, Saikon never expected to see his Lieutenants sliced through, weapons and armor included. Neither did he expect to be sent crashing through several trees by a human female whose waist was so thin he was pretty sure he could have grasped it with a single hand.
"Dance of Sacrifice, Act I, Shimmering Waves."
Following her initial attack, Eula effortlessly brandished her massive, predominately blue and white claymore known as the Whiteblind. It had the moderately broken effect of increasing attack power and defense by 6% every time it landed a blow, but, as impressive as the claymore was, it paled in comparison to its wielder's beauty.
The moment Saikon recovered and attempted to smash the upper half of her body with his massive fist, Eula pirouetted around it with such perfect timing that her figure appeared to disappear. At the very least, that's what Saikon felt before her claymore impacted his side, breaking several of his ribs and sending him flying a second time.
While Saikon was still in the midst of his flight, Eula moved like a phantom under and past him before spinning around and slashing upward, this time sending him flying into the sky. To the Ogre's credit, he was actually able to right himself in mid-air. However, the moment he did so, he found Eula waiting above him, her powerful and muscular thighs allowing her to leap more than 20m into the air in order to send him crashing into the ground like a meteor.
Erupting from the ground with a thunderous cry, Saikon shouted, "I will wear you...!" as he charged toward Eula like a berserk rhino. His durable hide, resilient muscles, and steel-like bones had allowed him to endure Eula's onslaught with only mild injuries. There was also steam rising from his body, a tell-tale sign that he had inherited at least a lesser form of his race's exceptionally rare and cheat-like regeneration.
Harumphing in response to Saikon's words, Eula cooly remarked, "How uncivilized." before adopting an elegant yet defenseless-looking posture with her back slightly arched and her sword strung behind her, supported by a single arm. If she were an ordinary person and the Whiteblind were a standard, extremely heavy claymore, swinging from such a posture would have been impossible.
Demonstrating that both she and her claymore were beyond exceptional, Eula used her hips as a pivot to initiate an extremely swift yet graceful flip using the Whiteblind's momentum. The path of the blade traced a perfect crescent that impacted Saikon's head the moment he got within range. It wasn't enough to crush his skull, but it was more than enough to send him crashing face-first into the snow and dirt as Eula landed gracefully atop his back.
With the intent to finish Saikon off, Eula gripped the hilt of her claymore with both hands, a resolute expression on her face as she aimed for the connecting point between his neck and skull. At this point, her attack and defense had increased by 24%, so there was a hazy shimmer covering the length of her claymore as she brought it down like the merciless blade of a guillotine.
Fearing for his life, Saikon attempted to roll to his side and dislodge Eula from his back, but the only thing he accomplished was exposing the side of his neck, an area without bone and a lot of vital arteries. Whiteblind cut through nearly a third of his neck as Eula used the force of his movement to propel herself high into the sky, flipping at the apex of her arc to bring her claymore down a second time. Had this been a normal strike, Saikon might have been able to react to it. Unfortunately for him, Eula's descent effectively disregarded the laws of physics as she accelerated toward the ground several times faster than its natural pull.
Had her opponent been virtually any other species, Eula would have won the moment she decapitated them. Instead, as Saikon's head rolled along the ground, glaring at her, his body pounced forward to try and tackle her. Not expecting this, Eula was nearly caught in the muscular Ogre's grasp when crisscrossing beams of light passed through his torso, courtesy of Paul and Ghislaine.
Recovering from her brief and momentary stupor. Eula cast a rather frosty gaze on the detached head that appeared to be trying to regrow its body. Ogres had tremendous vitality, not enough to regrow their body, but more than enough to pull themselves back together after being sliced apart.
Seeing Eula staring at him, Saikon released a largely soundless, gurgling roar that caused bloody foam to erupt from his mouth and the base of his neck. He knew he was about to die, so he didn't hesitate to use one of the trump cards of the Ogre Tribe, Blood Eruption.
Sensing danger, Eula immediately dodged backward with Whiteblind in between her and Saikon's head. At the same time, Saikon's head and the individual sections of his body all exploded, a corrosive, blood-red mist immediately filling the area. Fortunately, while it was an incredibly lethal attack up close, Blood Eruption only had an effective kill range of around 8m. At their levels, Paul, Ghislaine, and Eula were easily able to escape to safety, dodging all but a few stray droplets of the corrosive mist.
"What a cunt...he inherited two of his race's most extraordinary abilities and used them to enslave others? I thought the Ogre Tribe was supposed to be one of the nobler species of Demons..."
While using a ball of bubbly water to wipe away some of the stray, visibly smoking blood droplets from her body, Eula remarked, "The actions of a single individual are not representative of their entire race. While this man was undoubtedly reprehensible, it would be discriminatory to consider the rest of his species as loathsome."
Not expecting to hear such a remark from Eula, Paul briefly found himself at a loss for words before awkwardly replying, "It wasn't my intention to sound racist or anything...I just..."
Shaking his head, Paul added, "Forget it. I said something out of line, and for that, I apologize. Thanks for helping to keep me in check, Eula."
Returning the faintest of smiles, Eula placed her hand between her fairly modest but immaculately sculpted breasts as she offered a curt bow and said, "It is my pleasure to be of service."
Resisting the temptation to say something flirtatious in response, Paul adopted a faint smile of his own before shifting his gaze to Ghislaine and asking, "Think you can track their scent back to their lair? I want to check and make sure they don't have any slaves locked up somewhere. I would feel pretty shitty if I just left them alone to starve to death..."
Nodding her head in affirmation, Ghislaine said, "Leave it to me." before bolting off in the direction Saikon's group had initially approached from. When she found the base and returned to inform Paul about it, the latter felt both relieved and vindicated as there were a total of eighteen slaves being held captive in a surprisingly large cave. The condition of some of them made Paul's brain buzz with frustration and anger, but he was glad he hadn't simply left them to die...
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Though he had every right to keep it for himself, Paul allowed the victims affected by the Red Oni Hunting Party to divvy up the spoils found within Saikon's lair. The only articles he kept for himself were the group's ledger and a few letters proving their affiliation with various Nobles. He couldn't really do anything with them right now, but they would be handy to have if he decided to oppose or punish the Aristocracy of the Magic Triumvirate.
In his previous life, Paul had always looked down on people who tried to play the part of a hero. His mentality had changed once he gained access to the Intersection of Fate, but unless he could be relatively certain of his success, he would rather not stick his neck out for others.
For the time being, Paul's top priorities were gaining strength and simply enjoying his life until shit invariably hit the fan. He didn't consider himself a good person, but he also wasn't a complete piece of shit. Thus, while he was more than willing to both save and free the slaves he had rescued, he had no intention of looking after and caring for them after the fact. There were simply too many people suffering in the world of Mushoku Tensei for him to drop everything he was doing to help a bunch of random people he had never met nor stood to gain anything from.
Fortunately for the former slaves, Paul, as he was so fond of mentioning, wasn't a complete piece of shit. He wasn't willing to look after them, but he didn't mind handing over the additional twenty-three gold pieces they needed to enroll into the Ranoa Magic Academy. That would give them a solid eight years to figure something out for themselves, as, regardless of the age they enrolled, Ranoa Magic Academy allowed students to stay for eight years before they were forced to graduate.
While 23AGC wasn't exactly a small amount, Paul had more than 153,000 stored within the Intersection of Fate. If he wanted to, Paul could roll for pity seventeen times in a row, purchase several castles, or finance a literal army. Instead, he typically just used his funds to give hardworking people surprise, often life-changing tips. After that, it was up to them to turn their lives around and improve them for the better.&nbsp;
With the lives of billions of people resting on his shoulders, Paul literally couldn't afford to live for others...all he could do was give them a push in the right direction and hope for the best...
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"I guess this is where we part ways. See you around, Revaan."
Since he had genuinely expected Paul to make him work off his debts, Revaan couldn't even begin to describe how grateful he felt. Not only had Paul saved his and the lives of several others, but he went out of his way to help them enroll in the Ranoa Magic Academy. It was an unbelievably noble and selfless act, so much so that Revaan still couldn't believe there were no strings attached.
"I will never forget the kindness you have shown me these past two days, Paul Greyrat. If ever the opportunity presents itself, I will do everything in my power to repay this debt. If not to you, personally, then your children and your children's children. I swear it upon my name, Revaan Oakwood."
Clapping the youthful-looking Elf on the shoulder, Paul said, "Worry about that when the time comes. For now, just focus on your studies and making your family proud. After that, so long as you live a proper and just life, the debt between us can be considered null and void."
Inhaling a deep breath, Revaan's respect for Paul grew tenfold in a matter of seconds. He had never even heard of such a kind and generous human before. Even compared to Demons, humans were known to be greedy and borderline insatiable in their desires. They generally regarded every other race, even the ancient and noble Dragons, as beneath them. If he were to tell the people back at the Motherwood of Paul's existence, Revaan knew not a single person would believe him...
"Were there more humans like you, Paul Greyrat, this world would be a much better place..."
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(A/N: I started feeling ill around two days ago and have been sick since then. I'm starting to feel better, but I just wanted to let everyone know since I've only been releasing 2 chapters instead of 3-4.)

After parting ways with Revaan and the rest of the former slaves, Paul made his way to a brick building that resembled a miniature bastille. Like the rest of the Academy, it was constructed from a combination of Magic-proof bricks and rudimentary concrete that could resist up to Saint-Rank Magic. The exterior was predominantly red, but there was an ashen-grey trim around the base, while the expensive glass windows were shielded metal bars and bright green awnings.
Passing through the invisible, Saint-Ranked Barrier that surrounded the property, Paul was slightly startled when Lynette attempted to pounce on him. Unfortunately for her, Paul's training at the Sword Sanctum had made him a lot more difficult to surprise. The moment she attempted to jump on his back, he promptly spun around, startling the petite and lithe-looking cat girl quite a bit as he caught her in his arms.
"Well, hello there..."
Since she had intended to ride on Paul's back, Lynette's legs ended up locking around his waist as his hands supported her bottom. Her usually impassive expression remained so, but her face became beet red as she averted her amethyst purple eyes and muttered, "I didn't say you could touch my butt..."
"That just makes me want to enjoy it even more..."
Contrasting his words, Paul released Lynette's butt from his grasp and hugged her as he said, "I know I've already said this, but I missed you..."
"Nn..."
Though she promptly released her leg lock, Lynette made no attempt to escape Paul's embrace. It had been more than two and a half years since their separation at the Red Dragon's Upper Jaw, and, while she had never come out and said it, Lynette was rather fond of Paul. Her original reason for getting close to him was to incentivize him to summon her sister. It was only after seeing how tirelessly he worked to achieve his goals that Lynette began viewing her interactions with Paul as something more than just a means to an end.
He also smelled nice...
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After his brief reunion with Lynette, Paul made his way into the Bastille-like residence to find a young, silver-haired girl waiting for him. Unlike the others present, including a very mature-looking Rosaria, Andromeda had not benefitted from the near-death experience that caused Paul and the others to mature. She looked much older than twelve, especially around the chest, but she still had a lot of growing to do.
"Welcome back, Master Paul, Lynette..."
Though Paul had lost his status as a Noble, the time Andromeda spent at the Notos Estate had opened her eyes and fundamentally changed her worldview. She believed it was only a matter of time before Paul regained his position or attained an even greater one, so she had no qualms about referring to him as her Master. Everyone else seemed to.
Returning a smile, Paul said, "Sorry for the delay. I had to meet with the Principal and grease his palms a bit. How have you been, Andromeda? I trust the Academy staff have treated you well...?"
Nodding her head in affirmation, Andromeda answered, "Thanks to your Lord Father's recommendation and the contributions of Lady Ningguang, my life at the Academy has been nothing but pleasant. My only regret is that I could not prepare a more fitting abode. I had not expected Master to visit the North personally..."
While waving his hand dismissively, Paul sat on the luxurious sofa across from Andromeda and said, "It's nothing to fret over. It's not like I enjoyed having to travel more than a kilometer just to move between the wings of the Notos Estate. So long as they have the essential amenities, I actually prefer cozier residences such as this. Now, about your schooling..."
Lowering her head, Andromeda expected Paul to admonish her since she had been slacking off ever since reaching Saint Rank in Earth, Water, and Fire Magic. Instead, he adopted a friendly smile and said, "Principal Georg was full of praises about you. When he discovered I was your Benefactor, he even attempted to return my bribe."
Exhaling a silent sigh of relief, Andromeda raised her head and was about to reply to Paul's words when he caught her off guard, asking, "Have you given up on your revenge? Where's the Vision I entrusted you?" in a much more severe tone.
Swallowing hard, Andromeda raised the silvery chain wrapped around her neck to reveal a nearly inert Geo Vision. She hadn't given up her revenge, but, after living the relatively peaceful life of Ranoa Magic Academy's top student, she no longer cared as much about the affairs of the Kingdragon Kingdom.&nbsp;
Surprising Andromeda yet again, Paul nodded his head in approval rather than shaking it in admonition as he said, "Good. Living solely for the sake of revenge isn't healthy. If you've found happiness here in the North, you should pursue it. I heard you received a marriage proposal from the First Prince of the Neris Kingdom...?"
"Yes...I would not be the Queen, but he has promised me a position as his Court Mage if I accept..."
"Mmm...well, as long as he isn't pressuring you, I have nothing else to say on the matter. Just do what you believe is necessary for your happiness. I know I am."
Hanging her head, Andromeda began to feel ashamed of herself as she asked, "Is it okay for me to be so selfish? After everything Master Paul and Lady Ningguang have done for me...I feel as though-"
Raising his hand, Paul said, "Just stop. If you'll recall, I never once asked you to become a weapon or fight at my behest. When I granted you that Vision, it was to provide you with the opportunity to seize your destiny by the reins. If you truly wish to respect my and Ningguang's intentions, then live your life to the fullest without compromising your integrity and beliefs. That is the essence of Geo."
Seeing the Vision around Andromeda's neck regain a bit of its luster, Paul nodded his head in approval before rising to his feet and saying, "I'll be on my way, then. I wouldn't want to cause a misunderstanding or jeopardize your standing with the First Prince. I'm also not a student of the Academy, so it wouldn't exactly be proper for me to stay here."
Without waiting for Andromeda to recover from her stupor, Paul turned to depart, adding, "Take care of yourself, Princess." before gesturing for the others to follow.
"W-Wait a moment! Please wait just a moment, Master Paul...!"
Feeling more than a little panicked, Andromeda rose to her feet and tried to block Paul's path. She couldn't just kick her Benefactor out of his own home. Sure, she may have been using it for the better part of four and a half years, but the miniature castle was still Paul's. If he checked into an Inn while she was allowed to continue occupying a dwelling he had paid for using his own money, she would have no face left to give.
Surprising Andromeda for the umpteenth time, Paul plopped his hand atop her head as he said, "We were able to have this place constructed because it was a donation to the Academy. You owe me nothing, kiddo. Just keep doing your best to be happy...okay?"
"..."
Taken aback by Paul's words and actions, Andromeda found herself at a loss for words. A part of her wanted to insist they stay together from now on, but, just as when they were kids, Paul's existence was too large, too free to be held down by someone like her. She was constantly looking to make her life as comfortable as possible, while Paul never stopped trying to pursue something...more...
With her head hanging low, Andromeda's voice was barely a whisper as she said, "I wish I could go with you...I just...I don't have the strength..."
Adopting a wry yet affectionate smile, Paul wrapped Andromeda in his arms, gently caressing her back as he said, "Don't worry about me, kiddo. I have plenty of people walking this path with me...don't feel guilty about walking your own..."
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After bidding farewell to the teary-eyed Princess, Paul, accompanied by Ei, Eula, Xiangling, and Ghislaine, departed the Academy grounds to find a place to stay in the surrounding city.&nbsp;
The City of Magic, Sharia, was one of the largest cities in the Kingdom of Ranoa, as it had to cater to the more than 10,000 students attending the Ranoa Magic Academy. It also had to accommodate the people that had failed to enroll in the Academy, so there were hundreds of Inns, a thriving marketplace, and a massive Adventurers Guild.
Since they would be staying in the city for at least four months, Paul was planning to make some headway on his Adventurer's Rank in the weeks to come. For now, however, he just wanted to find a place where he and the girls could stay without disturbing others or being harassed.&nbsp;
One of the biggest downsides to traveling with beautiful women was the amount of attention they drew. Even when he had just been traveling with Reida, Paul had to fend off innumerable goons and scumbags. He thought things would improve once he matured, but, despite possessing the face and body of an Adonis, Paul could rarely enjoy so much as a walk without someone glaring at him or trying to hit on his women.
"Hey, what are you lasses doing with this baby-faced punk? How about ditching the kid and coming to experience what it's like to be with a real man?"
Though they were both wearing winter clothing, the beauty of Ei and Eula was such that other people couldn't help staring. Ghislaine and Xiangling certainly had charms of their own, but the aura of elegance and nobility exuded by Ei and Eula put them in a league of their own.
With Paul raising his hand, more so to stop Ei from cutting the men down than to prevent anyone from speaking, everyone else remained silent as he adopted a 'friendly' smile and said, "Each and every single one of us is a Sword Saint or higher. Are you sure you want to go through with this?"
While Paul's words sounded like absolute nonsense, they were more than enough to sober up the group of half-drunken men. The strongest person within their group was merely Advanced Rank in the North God Style, and, while that was nothing to scoff at, it couldn't compare to a Sword Saint.
Looking Paul and his group over, the party of drunkards realized that their would-be quarries were outfitted with exceptionally high-quality weapons and armor. Only Paul's and Ghislaine's weapons showed any signs of wear and tear, but the size of Eula's Whiteblind was enough to give the group a reason for pause.
Realizing they may have bitten off more than they could chew, the man at the front of the group forced a smile as he said, "We may have had a little too much to drink. Sorry for bothering you, lad..."
Catching the men off guard, Paul flicked an Asura Gold Piece toward the group, saying, "The next few rounds are on me. Just make sure you get to bed without causing anyone else any trouble, understood? The next time something like this happens, I won't be nearly as friendly..."
Though they were a little stupefied by Paul's offering, the group of men promptly thanked him before making way and disappearing into a nearby tavern. This nearly tempted a few other groups to block Paul's path, but after hearing him mention how everyone in his party was at least a Sword Saint, they promptly decided against it...
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With two Kingdoms and a Dukedom occupying a relatively small 680,000 square kilometers of land, common sense would dictate the road between Tria and Sharia to be reasonably safe. Unfortunately, despite their relative progressiveness, accepting all races without discrimination, the nations of the Magic Triumverate also had a very active Slave trade.
Since it wasn't exactly feasible to import Slaves from other countries, the Ranoa and Neris Magic Kingdoms had made a secret agreement with the various bandit troupes in the region. So long as they didn't plunder towns or assault convoys bearing the seal of the Royal Trade Commission, they were permitted to act with relative impunity. The Aristocracy would even pay a premium for young, beautiful, and exotic women, so while monster attacks were relatively rare, kidnapping and slave trafficking ran rampant throughout the North.
"Master..."(A/N: This is Ei.)
"Yeah, I know..."
Though he had sensed them beforehand, Paul activated his Demon Eyes of X-Ray Vision to find nearly twenty people waiting to ambush his party near a chokepoint in the forest path. Such numbers practically guaranteed the group was filled with weaklings, but the enchanted nets in their hands could prove troublesome if they knew how to use them.
The thing that aggravated Paul the most about the situation was that the group of bandits had employed a disheveled-looking girl with pale brown hair and long ears as bait. Paul didn't know if the girl was an Elf, a Hobbit, a Dwarf, or a hybrid of some sort, but seeing a young girl half-beaten and starved on the side of the road made his skin crawl.
"Spread out...the moment they attack, break away from each other and cut them down. You don't have to kill if you don't want, but know I won't be showing any mercy..."
With the final few words directed towards Xiangling, Paul was somewhat surprised to hear her firmly declare, "I won't forgive anyone who makes others into slaves."
What Paul didn't know was that Xiangling had befriended many of the people Ningguang had saved from slavery. She had been the leader of a therapy group that allowed the younger girls to unload their burdens in a safe environment. Some of the things Xiangling had heard were enough to make her want to hunt down and burn people alive. Thus, when it came to Slavers and Slave Traders, Xiangling had very little mercy to spare.
While thinking he should spend more time with Xiangling, Paul nodded his head in approval, saying, "Well said." before returning his attention to the path ahead and adding, "When the fighting begins, I'll entrust the scouts to you, Ghislaine...hunt them down like the animals they are..."
As someone that had been hunted by Slavers in the past, Ghislaine didn't hesitate to nod her head, growling, "No survivors..." in a murderous tone. Then, without waiting for a signal or the enemy to attack, she immediately charged into the underbrush to behead the masked Beast person that had been tailing them.
Slapping his forehead, Paul groaned, "This damned berserker..." before shaking his head, manifesting his Black Sword, and shouting, "Attack..!" in a commanding tone.
Surprising Paul even more than Ghislaine, Ei's figure vanished with a purple thunderclap, a zig-zagging trail of Electro energy darting through the trees as she cut down more than four people before his voice could echo through the area.
"Holy shi-"
"I will secure the girl."
Interrupting Paul's stunned utterance, Eula dashed low and swiftly to the ground, easily evading a series of nets before grabbing the malnourished girl seated on the side of the path. Her charge forward compelled Paul to do the same, the glowing edge of his blade cutting flesh, armor, and trees as if they were made of gelatin. There was some resistance, but it was so negligible that Paul only noticed the feedback when he happened to land a crit.
"P-Please! I have a-"
Before the man could finish his begging, Paul unhesitantly cut through his throat before swiftly raising his sword overhead and bifurcating the man from crown to stomach. It was an unbelievably ghastly sight, but Paul's expression and eyes remained firm as he leaped toward the next human-shaped monster.
In a surprisingly short period, Paul and his group had cut down a total of twenty-three people. Of these, Paul killed four, and Ghislaine killed three. The remaining fourteen were cut down mercilessly by Ei, her movements so swift and efficient that she would have been invisible to the naked eye if not for the vibrant purple trail of Electro Energy left in her wake. When she emerged from the forest, there was even a ring of it floating behind her back, an empowering phenomenon known as the Chakra Desiderata.
Though he had just murdered four people, Paul couldn't help muttering, "Beautiful..." when he saw Ei brandishing her Musou no Hitotachi in her left hand. When he did, her generally stoic expression developed a faint smile as she lowered her head and softly replied, "Master Paul is too kind with his words..."
Understanding that the aftermath of a slaughter probably wasn't the best time for flirting, Paul just returned a smile of his own before calling out to Eula, asking, "How's the girl...?"
Surprising Paul quite a bit, Eula, carrying the child-like Slave in her arms, corrected, "It's a boy. I believe he's an Elven child."
Since the only thing distinguishing male and female Elves in the world of Mushoku Tensei was their ears and privates, Paul couldn't be blamed for mistaking the Slave as a young girl. It also didn't really matter, so he just nodded his head before asking, "Is he injured anywhere...?"
Squinting her eyes in the closest thing to a scowl Paul had ever seen on her face, Eula answered, "Too numerous to count. Please apply Healing and Detoxification Magic at your earliest convenience."
"Got it. We'll move further up the path and create a small camp. Once I'm finish treating his injuries, I imagine he'll want to-"
Understanding Paul was about to mention food, Xiangling could no longer hold down the contents of her stomach. She hadn't killed anyone, but the smell of blood and slaughter was heavy on the air.
Patting Xiangling's back, Paul suggested, "Move first. Talk later." in a curt tone. In response, everyone picked up the baggage they had discarded before the battle. Then, despite being a little more than an hour out from their destination, they set up camp to care for the little Elven boy...
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"What do you mean everyone was wiped out!? We had more than half our boys out today...!"
As the person assigned to view the group from a distance, just in case, the sole survivor of the group of Slavers that targetted Paul trembled like a newborn faun as he explained, "I-I-It all ha-ha-happened so fast! We s-s-saw a gr-group of beautiful girls traveling with some ba-ba-bastard and thought they would be easy prey! The-"
Without waiting for the fumbling scout to finish, the mountain of a man he was reporting to slapped him aside with enough force to make his head explode. Then, with a demonic expression on his face, he rose to his full height of 220cm and said, "We're going. No one antagonizes our Red Oni Hunting Party and gets away with it. We'll capture the women and force them to watch as I wear their man like a codpiece."
Though the remaining thirteen people in the group issued loud cheers in response to their leader's words, they couldn't help feel chills run along their spines and spread through their bodies. Their leader was a member of the Ogre Tribe, one of the most muscular and physically intimidating species in the entire world. Their shoulders were nearly as broad as they were tall, but their most prominent features, at least in the eyes of many, were their tusk-like teeth, their singular red horns, and their nearly 40cm long penises...
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After treating the young Elf's injuries and providing them some potato stew, provided courtesy of Xiangling, Paul asked, "Got a name, kid...?"
Demonstrating he was likely a fair bit older than he appeared, the youthful-looking Elf nodded his head and answered, "Though those bastards thought they could take it away from me, my name remains Revaan Oakwood. I traveled here with the hope of studying Magic at Ranoa Magic Academy, but these miscreants seized my belongings and attempted to sell me as a Slave. When they realized I wasn't a female, they turned me into a punching bag and elected to use me as bait..."
Realizing he was being a little rude, Revaan lowered his head toward Paul and the others, saying, "Forgive my carelessness. Here I am complaining about my situation when I've yet to thank you for your assistance. I have nothing else to offer, so I hope my gratitude will suffice as compensation."
Waving his hand in a dismissive gesture, Paul said, "Don't worry about it. My companions and I aren't particularly fond of Slavers. Now, before I ask anything else, there's something I need to know. Are you a slave, or were you just being held captive...?"
Slumping his head and shoulders, Revaan replied, "I managed to avoid a brand but was still bound by Slave Contract. My would-be Master is a member of the Ogre Tribe named Saikon. I imagine he and his Red Oni Hunting Party will be appearing shortly to try and capture you..."
Raising his brows, Paul noted, "You don't seem particularly concerned."
Shaking his head, Revaan adopted a rather fierce smile as he said, "That demon may be powerful, but I've never seen anyone as powerful as you and your companions. If you were Mages, you might have had trouble due to the inherent Magical Resistance of the Ogre Tribe, but you appear to be swordsmen and women. I believe you will make short work of Saikon and his goons."
"Mmm..."
Though he would only be able to ascertain Saikon's strength when he met the man, Paul had read extensively about the various races that inhabited the world of Mushoku Tensei. The Ogre Tribe was mentioned as being the third most physically powerful species in the world, right behind Dragons and Titans. Even their children were rumored to be able to break through trees, while Malta, the Ogre God, was known to have leveled a mountain during his ten-day 'spar' with Badigadi.
Shifting his gaze to Eula, Paul asked, "Want to see how your Water God Style fares against a physically superior opponent? I'm pretty sure even Xiangling could wipe the floor with him, but you know I've always enjoyed watching you dance."
Blushing slightly, Eula muttered a meek, "Unforgiveable..." intended only for her ears. Then, in response to Paul's words, she nodded her head and said, "If I must, I will give Master a performance deserving of his praise."
Adopting an amused smile, Paul was tempted to tease Eula a bit when Revaan asked, "Why do these women refer to you as Master? Don't tell me..."
Answering in Paul's stead, both Eula and Ei exclaimed, "Do not insult our Master...!" at the same time. Fortunately for Revaan, Paul waved the two inordinately dutiful girls down before explaining, "I was once a relatively high-ranking Noble of the Asura Kingdom. Though my standing and title have been stripped away, I am blessed to have steadfast allies who still regard me as their Master..."
"Ah...that's why you speak so eloquently. Most of the humans I've met are, for lack of a better descriptive, wantonly barbaric. It would appear Master Paul is a highly educated gentleman. Perhaps you also wished to study at the Ranoa Magic Academy...?"
Though Paul was about to answer Revaan's question, his senses alerted him to the presence of numerous people even before Ghislaine said, "We are being surrounded."
Nodding his head, Paul said, "We'll need to put this discussion on hold. Ei, Xiangling, protect the camp. Eula, Ghislaine, and I will handle this."
"Understood."
"Okay..."
With the two girls responding in the affirmative, Paul manifested his Black Blade while focusing his Demon Eyes of X-Ray Vision on the most potent and bloodthirsty intent. He was slightly surprised by how massive Saikon was, but he had long learned that size didn't matter. Well, it did, just not in such a 'small scale' battle...
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Chapter 65: MI65: Dance of Death : Philanthropy