Mushoku Impact

With Ei, Eula, and Ghislaine following close behind, Paul headed toward the center of Sharia, the location of the Adventurer's Guild, a number of Magical Tool shops, and several other high-profile businesses.&nbsp;
Though he was somewhat interested in checking out the clothing stores with the girls, Paul reasoned there would be plenty of time for dates later. For now, he needed to meet up with his 'informant' and have Ei, Eula, and Ghislaine registered with the Guild.
As could be expected from a Guild located in such a populous city, the Adventurer's Guild of Sharia was extremely busy and filled with people from various races. The building was five stories tall, the first floor serving as a tavern and general gathering hub, while the second and beyond were restricted to Adventurers of a certain Rank.
Seeing Paul enter alongside a bevy of beautiful women, a lot of gruff-looking Adventurers immediately shifted their attention over. Paul was half-tempted to teach everyone in the hall a lesson, but, as powerful as he had become, he doubted he could best nearly a hundred Adventurers in such confined quarters. Ei could presumably pull it off, but that would invariably result in the deaths of everyone present.
Fortunately, while Adventurers weren't exactly saints outside the Guild Halls, they knew better than to cause trouble inside. The Guild had a no-nonsense policy in regards to rule breakers. If someone was found to be in breach of the Guild's Code of Conduct, not only would they have their license stripped away, but everyone in their Party would have their Rank reduced or reset to F-Rank.
With promotion from F-Rank to A-Rank taking anywhere between 60 and 600 jobs, nobody wanted to have to claw their way up from the bottom a second time. Thus, at least while they were inside the Guild Hall, Paul and the others didn't have to worry about anyone going out of their way to try and harass them. Once their reputation grew beyond a certain point, most people 'should' just let them be...
Looking around the Guild Hall, specifically at the Receptionists standing behind the counters, Paul briefly considered asking for assistance when a deep and feminine voice sounded out from the second floor, saying, "Up here, darlings. We have a private room prepared for you in the back."
In response to the sultry voice, the first-floor tavern area became eerily silent as nearly everyone, not just Paul and Party, raised their heads to find a voluptuous woman with brown hair and emerald green eyes leaning over the second floor's hand railing with an innately seductive smile on her face.
Voicing the thought that had crossed Paul's mind, one of the Adventurers nearby muttered, "It's Mistress Lisa...who could she be talking to?" in an audibly enchanted, equally covetous tone.
Making it clear precisely who Lisa was addressing, Paul adopted a wry smile as he raised his hand and said, "We'll be right up."
Realizing that the person their Goddess had called out to was the man they had previously been eyeing with envy, the gazes directed at Paul became a lot more hate-filled than before.&nbsp;
With few exceptions, nearly every male Adventurer in Sharia had tried to seduce or ask Lisa out at some point. A few had even attempted more forceful methods, but, without exception, they had all been turned down or left in a near-death state after being electrocuted. Lisa was one of the most playfully seductive women they had ever met, but there wasn't even a rumor of her having a relationship outside of work.
Following Paul's group as they made their way up to the second floor, the tensions on the first increased to a near-palpable level. There was even a fair amount of bloodlust mixed in, prompting Ei to squint her eyes and ask, "Master...shall I cut these fools down...?"
Shaking his head, Paul answered, "It's one thing to cut people down bandits and Slavers outside of town. Killing the middle of the Guild will just have us labeled as criminals..."
"Mmm...I see..."
Since she couldn't kill them, Ei directed her electric purple eyes to one of the groups glaring at Paul. When she did, their complexions immediately paled, as, even compared to someone like Sword God Gal, Ei's bloodlust was on a level of its own.
Drawn to the sounds of people falling from their chairs, many within the Guild's tavern area looked over to find the group Ei had glared at on the ground and with their eyes rolled toward the backs of their heads. A few were even frothing at the mouth as a very prominent aroma of urine and feces filled the area...
...
..
.
After guiding Paul and the rest to one of the conference rooms reserved for discussing private commissions, Lisa couldn't help issuing an amused giggle as she noted, "Master Paul has become even more charming since our last encounter...I get the feeling I won't be able to tease you without consequence any longer..."
Shaking his head, Paul adopted a wry smile as he countered, "I'm not that much of a pervert. I mean, I am, but I would never force someone against their will..."
Adopting a somewhat scary smile, Lisa left Paul feeling at a loss for words as she mused, "Have I ever implied that I was unwilling?" Then, as if to set the kindling within his heart aflame, she leaned forward in a way that emphasized her ample assets as she appended, "This room has amazing soundproofing..."
Voicing his thoughts aloud, Paul softly replied, "You're playing with fire..." before leaning forward to stare directly into Lisa's emerald green eyes as he added, "I would destroy you..." in a heated tone.
Enflaming Paul's passions even further, Lisa 'trembled' in response to his words, her arms wrapping around her body as a glaze developed across her eyes. Paul was pretty sure she was acting, but he would be lying if he said he wasn't tempted to pounce across the table and push the overtly seductive woman down...
Confirming Paul's suspicions, a teasing smile developed across Lisa's face as she remarked, "It seems you've to abandon your self-control entirely..."
Shaking his head, Paul left Lisa at a loss for words next as he refuted her claim, saying, "You're wrong. I just have my priorities in order. Once we're finished talking and getting everyone registered with the Guild, I wouldn't mind giving you a taste of what's to come..."
With a tiny bead of sweat forming on her left cheek, Lisa remarked, "Oh, my..." in an unpretentiously nervous tone. She had bathed with Paul a few times before Ningguang deployed her to the North. He had already been showing signs of his 'immense potential' by the time he was eight, so she had no doubt he had become even more...impressive as an adult.
Shifting her attention to the other girls in the room, Lisa was surprised to Ei and Eula visibly flushing. Before she could say anything or try to tease them, however, Paul interjected, asking, "Where's Fischl? When I received Rosaria's report, she told me the two of you had joined the Guild to gather information on the Triumvirate and the surrounding regions."
Sighing at the mention of Fischl's name, a sad smile developed across Lisa's face as she explained, "This world is too cruel for a girl like Fischl. Before becoming a Surveyor for the Guild, helping to determine the Rank of certain subjugation Quests, she was nearly taken advantage of several times. If not for Lynette and Rosaria shadowing her, I fear the worst might have havened..."
Squinting his eyes, Paul asked, "Are they still alive?" as his hands balled into fists.
Shaking her head, Lisa answered, "Though Fischl petitioned for some of them to be spared, there is no way Rosaria and Lynette would allow such people to continue living. Unfortunately, the people in this world are more superstitious than sensible. Even though she did no wrong, Fischl became a pariah within the Guild, wholly incapable of joining a legitimate Party..."
Exhaling a sigh of his own, Paul rubbed his face and temples as he asked, "Where is she now? Out on a mission for the Guild...?"
Nodding her head in affirmation, Lisa explained, "There is a community of Beast Race people located a few hundred kilometers East of the Dragon's Head Mountains. Since many of their women become pregnant during the Fall, Slave Merchants tend to try and take advantage of them during late Winter, the period where they are most vulnerable. Fischl is there to make sure there are no Adventurers taking part in the hunting..."
"Jesus H. Christ..."
Though he was well aware of the preponderance of slavery in the world of Mushoku Tensei, the notion of Slave Merchants deliberately gathering to take advantage of pregnant women made Paul want to punch a fucking wall.&nbsp;
Shaking the murderous thoughts from his mind, Paul asked, "Why aren't Rosaria and Lynette with her?"
Anticipating Paul's question, Lisa readily explained, "Rosaria just recently returned from an assassination mission in the Basherant Dukedom. As for Lynette, she helps maintain public order within Sharia by moonlighting as a vigilante. The people around here know her as the Hoodwink Killer since she uses illusions and trickery to make her targets experience despair and helplessness before killing them..."
"Mmm...sounds about right..."
Though Lynette was a very reticent girl, she was a famous Assassin even in her previous world. More notably, she and her then-brother had been agents of Varuna, the Hydro Archon and Goddess of Justice. As a result, anyone who touched her bottom line was bound to experience suffering comparable to what they had imposed on others.&nbsp;
"Any idea when Fischl will be returning? I want to be here to greet her when she gets back."
Adopting a sincere smile, Lisa remarked, "I'm sure she would like that. As for when she will be returning...I imagine around the beginning of Spring? It's difficult to say for certain."
Clicking his tongue, Paul sat a little straighter before crossing his arms and asking, "Have you put together a list of Quests we can do to fast-track our promotion? I want to reach at least A-Rank before setting out for the Strife Zone."
Nodding her head in affirmation, Lisa rose to her feet to retrieve a parcel containing dozens of job postings. It was generally frowned upon for the Guild to show favoritism to any particular Party of Adventurers, but Paul's group was a bit of an exception. Not because he was an exiled Noble, but because he was publically viewed as an apprentice to both the Water and Sword Gods. He was also the youngest Sword Saint in history, so it was only natural that the Guild attempted to curry favor with a future S-Rank.
"So long as you can complete higher-ranking Quests consecutively, you could reach A-Rank within six months. The only thing I foresee being an issue is the IOF. I know they're related, but I'm not sure how you receive credit through the IOF for completing Quests with the Guild."
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul suggested, "We could try taking one of the job listings into the IOF. Either that or we could just complete one and see if that triggers something. Got any fetch Quests lined up...?"
Pulling out a few E-Rank Job listenings, Lisa explained, "As I'm sure you're aware, most E and F-Rank Jobs involve collecting herbs, hunting ordinary animals, or performing services around town. This year's Winter had been especially harsh on the more underprivileged residents, so there is no end to the demand for wild game and high-quality pelts. With a member of the Beast Race in your Party, you should have no trouble tracking down a few wild boars, bears, and wolves. Just be sure not to ruin the pelts by slicing them into ribbons."
Noticing the Job was listed as repeatable, Paul understood why Lisa had suggested it. If they prepared a wagon and decided to camp out for a few days, they could leap from F to D-Rank in a single go. The reason other Adventurers didn't do the same was because the reward couldn't cover the cost of renting, much less purchasing a wagon. Carrying a 300kg bear several kilometers wasn't something most people were willing or capable of doing, so, while the option existed for everyone, only the wealthy could afford to exploit repeatable hunting quests for rapid advancement...
"Pay to win for the win..."
...
..
.

Though he was tempted to make good on his promise of 'destroying' Lisa to teach her a lesson, Paul didn't want to inconvenience her while she was at work. He also knew he wouldn't be able to calm down if he got too riled up, so, after registering Ei, Eula, and Ghislaine with the Guild, they formed a Party named Einherjar.
Due to his background as an aspiring Game Developer, Paul had always had a fondness for Norse and Viking culture. He also felt that the name Einherjar suited his Party well as the word roughly translated to Army of One. They weren't at that level just yet, but Paul genuinely believed it was only a matter of time before each member of his Party was comparable to a small army.
"You're horny."
Breaking Paul from his reverie, Ghislaine shamelessly sniffed him despite the presence of several locals. If he had a spray bottle on him, he might have given her a spritz. Instead, he just chuckled before ruffling her hair and saying, "That's my secret, Ghislaine. I'm always horny."
"Mmm..."
Though she was tempted to refute Paul's words, Ghislaine was getting better at discerning when he was joking around and when he was being serious. In response to his words, she looked towards Eula, asking, "Are you going to take care of it?"
Before the startled blunette could respond, Paul said, "That can wait till later. For now, let's pick up a wagon before heading home for lunch. I'm pretty handy in the kitchen, but I'm terrible at preparing food in the wild. If we're going to be camping outside, I'd prefer to have Xiangling with us."
Agreeing with Paul wholeheartedly, the two kitchen catastrophes, Ei and Ghislaine, nodded their heads. The former didn't actually need to eat, and the latter was okay with raw meat, but there was a significant difference between being 'okay' with something and preferring it. If she were given a choice, Ghislaine would readily surrender an entire boar for just a few cuts of meat prepared by Xiangling...
...
..
.
Though most wagons and pushcarts were made to order, taking days or even weeks to complete, most Carpenters and Blacksmiths carried more than enough spare parts to piece together a wagon or two.
By offering a 'very' handsome reward for their services, Paul managed to convince the two Dwarves running the Carpentry and Blacksmith to work together on a makeshift wagon capable of treading soil and snow. He was initially going to purchase a used cart, but most of the Merchants he tried bartering with were only willing to hand them over at the market price for a brand new wagon. The only one willing to offer a discount was an obese merchant who suggested that Ei and the others might be able to convince him if they showed a bit of 'sincerity.'
Instead of immediately refusing the offer, Paul suggested to the man that they move someplace private to discuss the specifics of their agreement. There, he beat the living shit out of the fat man before threatening to cut off his dick and shove it down his throat the next time he even considered making such an offer. He was half-tempted to burn the man's store to the ground, but without any backing in the Magic Triumvirate, Paul didn't want to cause too much trouble. At the very least, not yet...
...
..
.
With the Dwarves telling them to come back the following morning, Paul and his entourage of beauties exited the city of Sharia before walking the long way around and entering through the opposite gate. After causing a bit of trouble, they didn't want anyone following them the direct route to their current abode.
"Nya! Welcome back, Uncle Paul~! Big Sis Ghislaine~!"
Though he winced when he heard Esme addressing him as Uncle, Paul didn't chastise her for it. Instead, he ruffled the adorable little cat girl's hair as he asked, "Is your mum home?"
Before Esme could call out to her mother, Amalie emerged from the kitchen with a far more radiant smile than the one she had worn the previous day, replying, "Indeed I am, nya. Welcome back, everyone."
Retracting his hand from Esme's head, Paul returned a smile of his own before asking, "What's for lunch?" followed by, "And how'd the search for furniture and renovators go?"
Seeing her daughter deflate the moment Paul stopped patting her head, an amused chuckle emanated from Amalie's throat before she answered, "I've learned how to make curry and bao buns from Ms. Xiangling, nya. As for the renovations, I'm afraid it will take a few days before they can even get started. Luckily, we did manage to acquire a brand new bed and some furniture. A few village younglings are currently upstairs, giving everything a thorough scrub, nya. Speaking of which...what are you doing down here, Emse...?"
"Nya~?"
Instead of answering her mother's question, Esme's eyes widened before she promptly darted up the stairs like a startled house cat.
Exhaling a sigh, Amalie muttered, "That girl..." before regaining her smile, looking at Paul, and asking, "Would you like to eat now? If not, I can also give you a foot or back massage, nya~?"
Shaking his head, Paul answered, "Food sounds nice. Also, you shouldn't push yourself this late in your pregnancy. I understand your concerns, but you don't need to treat us like nobles. You're doing more than enough just by listening to my selfishness regarding the renovations. Just take care of yourself and your daughter; that's what's most important."
Exhaling a second sigh, Amalie's remarked, "You should be a little more selfish. When people aren't used to receiving kindness, it can make them feel even more stressed out to receive too much, nya..."
Though she appreciated everything Paul was doing, Amalie couldn't rest easy knowing he could just wake up one morning and decide to take back everything he had given them. It simply wasn't 'natural' for people to help others without receiving something substantial in return...
Understanding Amalie's thoughts, Paul's smile softened as he said, "Feel free to suspect me as much as you want. I have no intention of betraying your trust, so it's ultimately harmless unless you suddenly choose to stab me in the back. Since you don't strike me as the type to betray the people helping you out, I imagine this will eventually become a fond memory you look back on with a mixture of regret and fondness. Now then, let's eat...!"
Taken aback by Paul's words, Amalie found herself at a loss for her own. She had never met a human as strange as Paul, someone who could smile naturally even when accused of deceit. It simultaneously made him more and less trustworthy, a contrasting sentiment that left Amalie feeling even more confused than before...
...
..
.
Since he felt it would only garner unwanted attention if they were to stroll around the city, Paul decided to spend the hours before sundown playing with, or, more accurately, teaching Esme. She was currently around three and a half years old, so Paul figured he could give her a bit of a head start by teaching her and Ghislaine Water and Healing Magic.
Though neither Esme nor Ghislaine truly understood what he was trying to teach, the Beginner Level Spells were pretty straightforward and didn't require a lot of imagination. Just being charmed by the spectacle of Magic was generally enough to empower a person to cast the simplest of Spells. The only actual requirements were knowing the chant and having enough Mana to generate the phenomenon.
Fortunately, while few members of the Beast Race actively attempted to become Mages, it didn't mean they were lacking in talent or affinity. It just wasn't a part of their predominately warrior-based culture.
Though Ghislaine failed rather spectacularly, Esme left her mother feeling equal parts proud and exasperated as she managed to produce a sizeable Water Ball before ultimately losing control and drenching both herself and the floor. Proud because she had never even considered that her daughter might be able to use Magic, and exasperated because she knew her daughter was bound to make a mess.
In an effort to alleviate Amalie's feelings of exasperation, Paul offered to sponsor Esme's education at the Ranoa Magic Academy once she turned 5 or 10. His offer ended up having the opposite effect, but for the sake of her daughter, Amalie agreed without too much of a fuss...
...
..
.
With the sun having long descended over the horizon, Paul and the rest retired to their bedroom to find everything spick and span. The children Amalie had hired were instructed to continue scrubbing until they could no longer smell her scent, so the room almost felt brand new.
Seeing the massive bed that had been constructed in place of Amalie's comparably small one, a wolfish grin developed across Paul's face as he asked, "Who wants to help me break it in? After that brief interplay with Lisa this morning, I've been raring to go."
Since Ei and Eula were usually the first to step forward, citing duty or some such, Paul was pleasantly surprised when Xiangling sheepishly raised her hand and asked, "Can I volunteer? I've been feeling a little anxious recently, and I think it would help..."
Without needing to consider his response, Paul replied, "Of course." before shifting his attention to Ei and Eula, asking, "Do the two of you mind waiting in the IOF?"
Though Xiangling had experimented with girls like Xinyan and participated in several orgies, she was the type of girl that could only open up when it was just the two of them. Fortunately, Ei and Eula were well aware of this, so, without attempting to protest, the former responded with a curt, "Very well." while the latter supplied an even more concise, "Understood."
With the two taciturn beauties taken care of, Paul shifted his attention to Ghislaine, asking, "Are you okay with resting in the nursery until Lynette shows up? When she does, I want you to explain what happened with the fat merchant earlier this morning."
Though she crossed her arms under her rather sizeable breasts, Ghislaine didn't hesitate to answer, "I'll take care of it." She was only really aroused during the mating season, so while she had gotten used to cuddling with Paul each night, she didn't mind sleeping elsewhere so he could deal with the urges of his other women.
Returning an appreciative smile, Paul said, "Thanks, Ghislaine. I knew I could count on you." in an ostensibly sincere tone. In truth, he felt more than a little guilty about having her sleep somewhere else, but he would feel even guiltier if he didn't spend some quality time with Xiangling.&nbsp;
Managing a harem wasn't just early morning deepthroats and gratuitous amounts of sex...
Sensing Paul's apprehension, Ghislaine adopted a rare smile of her own as she squinted her eyes and stated, "Don't worry...I'll get mine come Fall..."
Prompted by a shiver running up his spine, an awkward laugh emanated from Paul's throat. He knew Ghislaine was trying to tell a joke, but, at the same time, he knew she was at least 50% serious. If he failed to make the necessary preparations come Fall, there was a possibility he would spend the first five weeks of the season as her captive...
...
..
.
With no one else present, Xiangling's usual docility was nowhere to be seen. When others were around, she would behave very meekly, usually taking a support role and prioritizing others. When they were alone, she became a lot more confident and playful, even going so far as to banter a bit when she played around with Paul's not-so-little brother.
"Look at this. It's nearly the size of my forearm! How this thing fits inside of us, I'll never know..."
Though Xiangling's words may have sounded like an exaggeration, they weren't. Paul had been sporting more than 20cm even before his growth spurt. When his height suddenly shot up more than 30cm, the rest of his body grew to match. Now, with his body in its 'prime' condition, Paul was sporting precisely 28cm of man meat when erect. If he were being frank, even Paul was a little intimidated by it since he was constantly worried he might accidentally 'break' someone...
Fortunately, the bodies of mature women were as enigmatic as they were beautiful. Petite girls like Barbara and Xiangling struggled a bit, by women like Ei, Eula, and Ghislaine could take Paul's entire length without showing any signs of duress. Quite the opposite...
Feeling a little brave, Xiangling reverse-mounted Paul's chest and said, "I think I can pass the halfway mark this time..."
Restraining a chuckle, Paul began to massage Xiangling's pert white butt as he said, "Just don't choke. If you were sent back to the IOF for such a ridiculous reason, I don't think either of us would live it down..."
Though she supplied a nervous chuckle, Xiangling wasn't daunted by Paul's words. Instead, she began to gather saliva in her mouth before sticking out her butt to grant Paul easier access to the glistening garden between her thighs. When he grabbed her waist and began lapping at her folds, she grabbed the shaft of his oversized member and kissed his dark red glans. Then, over the course of twenty or so minutes, she did her best to accept as much of it into her throat as possible...
...
..
.

Though he was planning to frequent the Guild a lot in the near future, Paul searched for places on the opposite side of Sharia to stay. He didn't want to share an abode with other Adventurers, so, rather than searching for an Inn closer to the town center, he investigated the small, comparably cozy hostels along the periphery.
In the process of searching for a place to stay, Paul's progress was halted by a young girl wearing a winter frock and carrying a basket of bread. Her black, cat-like ears made it pretty obvious she was a member of the Beast Race, but, unlike Ghislaine, she had a black, button-like nose reminiscent of an actual cat.
"Nya? Strong-looking big sis! Are you looking for a place to stay, nya~?"
Instead of acknowledging anyone else in Paul's group, the black-haired cat girl zeroed in on Ghislaine as if she were the only person present. In response, Ghislaine simply nodded her head, answering, "Yes." in a curt tone.
Thumping her chest, the tiny cat girl replied, "Great, nya! Follow Esme! Esme will show you a good place, nya~!"
Demonstrating a bit of her gullibility, Ghislaine allowed herself to be pulled along by the diminutive cat girl without a fuss. She did look back at Paul for confirmation, but, seeing him smiling wryly, she made no attempt to break free as the five, maybe six-year-old girl dragged her to a building that was more like a rundown bakery than a hostel.
"Mooooomnya~! Esme found customers, nya~!"
"Nya~?"
Demonstrating where Esme had acquired her verbal tick, a considerably more mature cat girl with long black hair, black eyes, and a plump figure emerged from what Paul assumed to be the kitchen. Her black tail looked as though more than two-thirds had been cut away, but her most notable trait, at least for the time being, was the fact she was pregnant.
Seeing the large group of people, Esme's mother gave her daughter a helpless look before meeting Paul's gaze and saying, "There seems to be a misunderstanding, nya. We have two rooms available, but I planned to rent them out to members of the Beast Race. They aren't really furnished for humans, nya..."
"Nya? Did Esme make a mistake, nya!?"
Before Esme's mother could respond, Paul surprised her by asking, "Mind if my companions take a look at the rooms while we discuss terms...?"
Since he could tell the bakery-like domicile was a bit worse for wear, Paul couldn't help wanting to lend a hand to the clearly struggling mother and her child. Members of the Beast Race typically had around three children, yet Esme was the only one present. The residence was also too small to have more than two proper bedrooms, so Paul assumed the woman and her daughter were sleeping in the pantry while leasing out their rooms to guests. Either way, they weren't doing well.
Though she exhaled an exasperated sigh, Esme's mother didn't refuse Paul's request. She really was at her wit's end, so, after giving Ghislaine's and the other girls a once-over, she eventually nodded her head and said, "Very well...Esme, please show our guests to the rooms upstairs, nya."
"Leave it to Esme~! Follow me, nya~!"
Grabbing Ghislaine's hand a second time, Esme dragged the much taller cat woman upstairs while Eula and Xiangling followed after them. Ei was Paul's defacto bodyguard, so unless he specifically told her to go away, she would linger around him like the Kagemusha she once was.
Once everyone else had gone upstairs, Esme's mother offered Paul and Ei a loaf of freshly baked bread before saying, "Forgive my manners, nya. My name is Amalie, nya. I am Esme's mom and the owner of the former Cat's Tail Bakery."
Seeing a rather potent melancholy in Amalie's expression and eyes, Paul was very tempted to ask what had happened. Instead, he offered a polite nod and said, "My name is Paul. This remarkably beautiful woman next to me is Ei. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ms. Amalie."
Returning a half-nod of her own, Amalie hesitated for a moment before asking, "Why do you want to stay here, Paul? Though we could use the help, humans don't usually involve themselves with the troubles of the Beast Race..."
Since she could somewhat sense that Paul intended to help her, Amalie wanted to know his reason for doing so. She wouldn't mind sleeping with him if he was just curious and willing to pay, but he already has a member of the Beast Race traveling with him. He also didn't give off the smell of a man in heat, so Amalie genuinely had no idea what he wanted from her.
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul maintained a friendly smile as he answered, "I just like helping people. Since your daughter called out to us, I consider it fate that our paths crossed like this. It has nothing to do with your race. If I can help someone without having to compromise myself or my beliefs, I see no reason not to."
Punctuating his statement, Paul pulled out an ornate pouch filled with a few Asura Gold and Silver Coins, adding, "My companions and I intend to stay within Sharia for around 4-6 months. I believe this should suffice as payment?"
Since the pouch was relatively large, Amalie expected it to be filled with a few dozen Large Copper Coins. When she saw the smallest denomination of currency was a Silver Coin, roughly what she earned in an entire month of operating the bakery, she removed her hands from the bag as if it were a hot stove, exclaiming, "I can't accept this!" in a panicked tone.
In an attempt to allay the woman's concerns, Paul revealed, "Everyone in my Party is at least Saint-Ranked in Swordsmanship or Magic. We earn a lot more than this through the Guild, so don't worry and accept it without a fuss. If not for yourself, then your children."
Nodding his head towards Amalie's rather prominent belly, Paul made it clear he wasn't just helping her. He knew about the Beast Race's habit of culling their weaker offspring during difficult times, and while he could understand their reasons for doing so, he would rather not have to live with the knowledge that Amalie had to kill off one or more of her children just to get by...
Though she was still reluctant, Amalie ultimately accepted the pouch with visibly shaky hands. She genuinely believed Paul was out of his mind, but she also really needed the money.
After pocketing the unnervingly heavy bag, Amalie lowered her head as far as her pregnant belly allowed, saying, "Thank you very much. If there is anything you require during your stay, anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask, nya..."
Understanding that Amalie really did mean anything, Paul's smile became slightly wry as he replied, "I'll keep that in mind...for now, how about you show me the kitchen? I wouldn't call myself a baker, but I'm familiar with the process."
Regaining her smile, Amalie happily replied, "Of course." before gesturing towards the kitchen and saying, "Follow me, nya~."
...
..
.
Matching Paul's expectations, the rooms being leased out within Amalie's house were the master bedroom and what he assumed was a refurbished nursery. Only the former had an actual bed, while the latter was filled with surprisingly comfortable furnishing resembling large beanbags. According to Ghislaine, such beds were the norm back in the Great Forest, so Amalie hadn't been lying when she said they weren't really furnished for humans.
Since Eula wasn't too enthusiastic about staying in what was effectively a kennel, Paul gave all the girls the option of resting within the Intersection of Fate during the evenings until he could refurbish the place. The month or so he had spent with Ghislaine during the Mating Season had bolstered his resistance to stench and odors quite a bit, so he didn't mind the smell nearly as much as they did.
Though Xiangling and Ei did their best to put on a front, they eventually retreated to the Intersection of Fate after failing to fall asleep. This gave Paul and Ghislaine the bed to themselves, so, with her no longer being in heat, the two just cuddled for the first half of the night. That was around when Lynette snuck in through one of the second-floor windows, briefly alerting both Paul and Ghislaine until they realized who it was. After that, the three of them snuggled up together until around 3 AM, the time when Paul had to release the rest of the girls from the IOF...
...
..
.
While Xiangling helped out in the kitchen, Paul left Amalie feeling at a loss for words as he discussed refurbishing the entire residence. He wanted to rebuild the bakery from the ground up, not just to make it more habitable for himself and the girls but to give Amalie the chance to resume business once they left.&nbsp;
After counting the amount of money Paul had given her, Amalie regarded herself, the bakery, and pretty much everything in her possession as his property. Even if she were to sell herself into slavery, she might not earn more than 5 Asura Silver Coins due to her age and damaged tail. Paul had given her eighteen Asura Gold Coins and thirty-seven Asura Silver Coins. If he hadn't asked them not to, she and her daughter would be referring to him as Master.
"Is it okay if I use the money you gave me to hire a Carpenter I'm familiar with? This year's Winter was especially harsh, so there are a lot of people in need of work and money."
Causing Amalie to feel even more fretful, Paul pulled out another pouch, this one filled with two hundred Asura Silver Coins, as he explained, "The money I gave you was for food, lodgings, and hospitality. You can use this to purchase new furniture, a larger stove, and have a bath installed. As for who you hire, that's ultimately up to you. I'm new to Sharia, so you're a lot more familiar with these kinds of things than I am."
Since Paul had practically shoved the pouch into her hands, Amalie had no choice but to accept it as she lowered her head and muttered a meek, "Thank you, nya..."
Shaking his head, Paul said, "Don't thank me. I'm being pretty selfish by imposing on you like this. Offering adequate compensation is the least I can do."
Though she wanted to refute Paul's words, Amalie assumed that anything she said would be futile. Their community was also in desperate need of assistance, so she didn't want to say or do anything that might offend her new benefactor. Instead, she just bowed her head, her large, cat-like ears twitching due to a combination of frustration and excitement.
Resisting the temptation to give Amalie's head a pat, Paul interrupted the sudden silence by saying, "I'm going to leave Xiangling back to help look after things. The rest of us are going to the Adventurer's Guild to meet up with an informant and take on some Quests. We should be back by lunch, but there's a chance we'll be back much later. Don't feel the need to wait up for us, okay?"
Nodding her head in understanding, Amalie was about to say something when Xiangling emerged from the kitchen with a far more fragrant loaf of bread than the ones she usually prepared. The diminutive yet buxom chef was familiar with far more advanced baking methods than those typically available within the world of Mushoku Tensei, so Paul was going to have her teach Amalie a few tricks to turn the bakery into one of Sharia's future hotspots. That way, she would never have to worry about money again...
...
..
.

Chapter 68: MI68: Benefits