Mushoku Impact

After escaping Lisa's clutches, Paul returned to Amalie's bakery to explain the situation to Ei, Eula, Xiangling, and Ghislaine.
"So the idea is that we place a Lodestone at a central location and allow its influence to expand over time. We also need to travel around to place Beacons, but that's pretty much pointless unless we can supply them with Elemental Energy."
Being the most detail-oriented among the quartet, Eula suggested, "We can use the Princess and the dwelling you had constructed in the Ranoa Magic Academy. It's safer than placing it here, and Princess Andromeda should be able to power it using her Vision."
Nodding his head, Paul replied, "I had a similar thought. However, while I believe Andromeda can be trusted, her stay at the Academy will come to an end within the next two and a half years. It would also cause a number of issues if we were constantly moving in and out of the Academy, so we should consider alternatives before deciding to place it there."
Chiming in, Xiangling attempted to be helpful by asking, "Why not leave it with Lisa? She has already established herself in Sharia and possesses an Electro Vision. If you can acquire a few Constellations for her, she should be able to reach the status of a King or Emperor-Ranked Mage in the next couple of years. After that, she can become a Professor or even take over the entire Ranoa Magic Academy."
Impressed by Xiangling's proposal, an approving smile developed across Paul's face as he said, "Not bad. The only problem with that is Lisa's lack of status. The current Principal, Georg, is the son of an Earl and a friend of the reigning King. He seems like a decent enough guy, but I can't imagine the Nobility being okay with a 'commoner' succeeding him. After all, the Ranoa Magic Academy is the largest and most prestigious Magic Institute in the entire world. It is essentially the public face of the Ranoa Kingdom, so they won't let a low-born outsider serve as its representative."
Adopting a slight pout, Xiangling muttered, "Politics are dumb..." in a sulky tone.
"You can say that again...still, your idea has a reasonable amount of merit. With Lisa's talents, she could easily become a tenured Professor. We just need to secure some form of backing to ensure she doesn't get targeted by some asshat with more status than sense. You girls are all so beautiful that it would only take crossing a single entitled shitbag for everything to go South in an instant."
Though Paul had long accepted that some of the people he summoned from the Intersection of Fate would have relationships with other people, specifically those like Kaeya and Childe, he wasn't okay with them being forced by circumstance. If Lisa joined the Academy and was pressured by someone like Georg to become his Mistress, her only options would be to accept his offer or leave Ranoa. As her Rank as a Mage increased, it was only a matter of time before some arrogant Noble set their sights on her.
Shaking the negative thoughts from his mind, Paul added, "There is also the option of waiting until we reunite with Ningguang and the rest before we begin placing Lodestones. That would mean having to backtrack tens of thousands of kilometers, but I feel it would be a lot smarter to expand our Teleporation Network from our actual seat of power than somewhere thousands of kilometers away."
While it would undoubtedly be good to have the means to traverse to and from the North at their leisure, Paul estimated it would take hundreds, if not thousands of Beacons to create a path linking the Ranoa Kingdom to the Strife Zone. With each Beacon costing a thousand Asura gold Coins, he would go bankrupt long before they reached their destination.
Explaining his reasoning to the girls, Paul effectively quelled any thoughts of expanding his Teleportation Network with Sharia at its center. 153,000 Asura Gold Coins was the equivalent of 1530 summons, nearly double the amount he had currently summoned. That guaranteed at least seventeen 5-Stars, so, as tempting as the thought of Teleportation was, Paul was in no hurry to expend all his resources trying to create a network.
"For now, we'll keep the Lodestone here and see how far its influence can spread within the next four to six months. If it can expand to cover Sharia and extend to nearby cities and villages, we'll consider investing in a few Beacons. If it can't, it would be better to spend our money on acquiring additional allies and Constellations. After all, we're still missing four of the seven Archons. Without them, we wouldn't even be able to make effective use of the Teleportation Network."
Since most of the people he had summoned possessed a Pyro, Cryo, Anemo, or Hydro affinity, twenty-three of Paul's thirty-three allies were still unable to use their Visions. Since three of them were the literal source of their respective Elements, that meant less than a quarter of his allies could make use of their full power. Unfortunately, as it would provoke all kinds of problems if he did a mass summoning in Sharia, they would have to wait a while longer before Paul's next gacha spree...
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After half a day and an entire evening of making up for his absence the previous night, Paul awoke a bit later than usual. When he did, he found the only person next to him was Ei. He half expected to find Lynette as well, but she tended to avoid his room whenever he had sex.
Poking the slumbering Archon in the cheek, Paul remarked, "You look adorable when you pretend to sleep..."
Opening her eyes, Ei replied, "I wasn't pretending. I was just waiting for you to wake up. Had you gone back to sleep, I would have accompanied you till the end."
Caressing Ei's cheeks, Paul said, "Yeah, I know. Now, let's get up. I'll give you a thorough wipe-down before helping you get dressed and combing your hair."
Though she complied with Paul's words, Ei couldn't help exhaling a sigh as she whispered, "It should be my responsibility to help you..."
Surprising the purple-haired woman by grabbing her ass and giving her a peck on the cheek, Paul teased, "We both know you do more than help me. If we were back in your world, I bet people would fight wars for the chance to grovel at your feet, much less bed you. I'm the fortunate fool that gets to wake up next to you nearly every day..."
"..."
With her vibrant purple pupils crackling with violet-purple Electro Energy, Ei stared back at Paul with a somewhat blank look on her face. She didn't know if he did it on purpose, but there were times when his words made her heart flutter like a butterfly fighting through gale-force winds...
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Emerging from the upstairs shortly before noon, Paul was unsurprised to find several Beastfolk hard at work renovating the bakery. The faint sound of movement and the persistent pounding of hammers was what caused him to awaken.&nbsp;
Noticing Paul's and Ei's appearance, a surprisingly muscular cat girl with amber eyes, short grey hair, grey ears, and a long grey tail approached them to ask, "You Amalie's new mate?"
Well aware of how candid the members of the Beast Race could be, Paul maintained a relaxed smile as he shook his head and answered, "No. I'm just her Benefactor. What about you? I'm guessing you're the Boss since everyone else is hard at work...?"
Instead of being offended by Paul's words, the incredibly buxom cat girl puffed out her chest with pride as she replied, "That's right! Within Sharia, I'm the third-strongest member of the Beast Race! I'm not very skilled at construction, but these rascals would slack off if I weren't here."
Though he couldn't really imagine a member of the Beast Race slacking off, Paul nodded his head, asking, "Got a name? Mine's Paul, by the way. Paul Greyrat."
Recognizing the name Greyrat, the grey-haired cat girl suddenly became a little uneasy as she asked, "You're a descendant of the Greyrats? Which branch...?"
"Notos."
Exhaling a sigh of relief, the buxom beauty wiped away some nonexistent sweat from her brow as she remarked, "That's good. If you were from the Boreas family, I could totally imagine you taking over the little community we've created here...wait a second..."
Recalling what the members of House Notos were famous for, the grey-haired beauty began to sweat for real as she looked between Ei's and her own rather sizeable assets. She was also aware that Paul was traveling with another member of the Dedoldia Tribe, as, before Ghislaine's arrival, she had been the second strongest in Sharia.
Seeing through the woman's thoughts, Paul said, "Relax. I'm not trying to take advantage of anyone. Me staying here was pure coincidence. Esme called out to us when we were looking for a place to stay. Now, how much longer are you going to keep me waiting for your name...?"
"Oh, whoops..."
Pointing to herself, the grey-haired catgirl spiritedly replied, "I'm Mileena, Mileena Dedoldia. It's a pleasure to meetcha, boss man~!"
Since she had heard that he was Ghislaine's Boss, that effectively made Paul her Boss's Boss. After all, when she had challenged Ghislaine to a match, Mileena barely had time to react before she found herself pinned to the ground and forced to yield.
Unsurprised by Mileena's form of address, Paul decided to use it as a segue, asking, "Where is Ghislaine, by the way? I can't imagine her going off to train without me."
"Ah, the Boss is in the kitchen. She's been helping Amalie and the Master taste test some new bread and snacks."
Tilting his head to the side, Paul was momentarily confused as he asked, "Master? Do you mean...Xiangling...?"
Bringing her hands together like an enraptured fangirl, Mileena excitedly replied, "That's right! Master Xiangling made us all breakfast, and it was the most delicious thing we've ever eaten! It's no wonder Ghislaine is so strong. After eating Master's cooking, I could work the entire day without rest...!"
Though she wasn't actually doing any work, Mileena wasn't lying when she said she was full of energy. The food Xiangling prepared, much like the dishes from Genshin Impact, had all kinds of beneficial effects. She was still figuring out the best combination of ingredients, but she could create food to replenish stamina and stave off the cold.
"Sounds about right. Well, it's been nice talking to you, Mileena. I'm going to go and find my companions. Keep up the good work."
Crossing her arms in a manner that accented her breasts, Mileena replied with a somewhat arrogant, "Just leave it to me! With me in charge, things are bound to go smoothly~!"
"Right..."
Resisting the almost instinctual urge to pat Mileena's head, Paul made his way past her to the incredibly aromatic kitchen. There, he found it wasn't just Ghislaine helping Xiangling and Amalie test new recipes. More than a dozen beastkin children sat patiently at the side while some of the older girls helped process ingredients.
Noticing Paul's entrance, a smile developed across Amalie's face as she said, "Good morning, Paul. Were you drawn here by the smell of bread, nya~?"
Hearing Amalie's words, Xianling also looked over, a marginally more radiant smile on her face as she parroted, "Good morning, Paul, Ei! The next batch should be ready in a few minutes~!"
Since he could smell the aroma of apple in the air, Paul couldn't help supplying a smile of his own as he replied, "I'm looking forward to it." However, instead of sitting off to the side, he asked, "By the way, have you seen Eula?"
Setting aside what she was working on, Xiangling used a white towel to clean her hands as she explained, "She accompanied the group that went to procure ingredients. Since you said we would be taken the next couple of days off, we decided to open a soup and bread kitchen to feed some of the less fortunate beast people in the area. Is that okay...?"
Nodding his head in approval, Paul replied, "Of course. Just make it clear from the start that we're not a charity. If you consistently provide people free food, they'll become dependent on it. Helping people out is fine, but don't let them take advantage of you."
Returning a nod of her own, Xiangling revealed, "We were going to have anyone over the age of eight help out by shoveling snow or disposing of trash. We also have Ghislaine and Mileena here if anyone tries to make a scene, but I don't think it will be an issue unless homeless people start migrating over from other regions of the city."
"Sounds like you've thought things through. Since that's the case, I'll let you do as you please. As for the children younger than eight, leave them to me. I don't really have anything going on, so I'll have them learn how to read, write, and cast lifestyle magic. That includes you, Esme."
Hearing Paul's words, Esme stopped hiding behind the counter. She liked learning about Magic and how to defend herself, but reading and writing were super boring. She had only had two lessons, and she already hated them both.
"Nyaaa..."
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Though many within Sharia had been suffering due to the long and cold Winter, it wasn't as though there wasn't enough food and supplies to go around. The nations of the Magic Triumvirate were so far North that they were covered in snow year-round. Thus, while they primarily survived due to animal husbandry, they had found solutions to growing crops in nearly arctic temperatures centuries prior.
The simple truth of the matter was that the people in charge of the Magic Triumvirate, despite 'welcoming' people of all races, didn't want foreigners settling there. They relied on people bringing in goods and currency from outside and were actively harmed by 'poor people' trying to migrate to the region. After all, unlike other countries, people couldn't just be put to work tilling and cultivating the land. That was a job left to the slaves of wealthy and established Nobles, so unless they were actively contributing to the development and prosperity of the nation, countries like the Ranoa Magic Kingdom didn't truly welcome outsiders.
With a standard, 30kg bushel of wheat costing 3 Asura Silver Coins, Eula, using the wagon Paul had previously purchased, managed to acquire two-thousand-kilograms for a discounted 15 Asura Gold Coins. The retail price was 20AGC, but as most people would haggle down to around 2ASC per bushel, the merchant was able to turn a profit of around 2AGC by selling in bulk.
Under normal circumstances, 2000kgs of what could be processed into around 1500kgs of wheat flour. That was enough to produce 1500kgs of noodles, 3000 loaves of bread, or 15,000 slave rations, a tough but easily preserved food that resembled a thick cracker.
With Xiangling at the helm, 1500kgs of wheat flour could be turned into much more than simple, borderline tasteless bread. First and foremost, she was an expert at making dumplings, and, thanks to Paul, she could also produce high-quality pizzas, pasta, and lasagna. Cheese happened to be one of the top three exports from Sharia. Better yet, they also grew a variant of peanut that flourished in sub-zero temperatures, so Xiangling was able to teach the members of the Beast Race how to process them into peanut oil.
While it wasn't the best oil for frying things, the concept of frying was virtually unheard of within the Central Continent. When the beast people ate the meat and cheese dumplings provided by Xiangling, it was like they were entering a new realm of flavor. After all, while cheese was ubiquitous within the world of Mushoku Tensei, especially in regions that focused on animal husbandry, most people had never consumed it melted, much less fried...
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"This is phenomenal! Exceptional! Beyond fantastic...!"
With hundreds of beast people gathering around Amalie's bakery daily, it wasn't long before the Mayor sent his servants to see what was going on. When they brought back some of Xiangling's food, the rather portly fellow was beside himself with amazement. He had to try it fresh from the oven, so, after deliberating for several days, he decided to pay the bakery a visit rather than attempting to force Xiangling to come to him.
Under normal circumstances, the Mayor, better known as Count Schmidt, would never lower himself to visiting a bakery owned and operated by a beast person. However, upon learning that the person responsible for the fried dumplings was a member of Einherjar, a Party comprised entirely of Saints, he decided to make an exception. Members of the Adventurer's Guild were regarded as Sovereign Citizens, so Count Schmidt technically had no authority over Paul or his Party members. That typically wouldn't matter, but with the power they wielded, Count Schmidt would rather not antagonize a group of people that could theoretically slaughter everyone in his Manor before fleeing to another country.
"If you think this is good, you should see what Xiangling is capable of with higher-quality ingredients. These dumplings are just the tip of a very large iceberg."
Hearing Paul's words, Count Schmidt's glistened with magical energy and excitement. He wanted nothing more than to acquire Xiangling as his chef, but, understanding Paul's background, he knew she was a vassal that had been serving the brown-haired youth her entire life. She was also a Saint-Ranked Fire Mage who, according to rumors, had incorporated chantless Fire Magic into her spearmanship. He would need to be a fool to think she would betray her Master after accompanying Paul into his exile.
Believing he had seen through Paul's intentions, Count Schmidt gestured for one of his female slaves to wipe his face and beard before suggesting, "Tales of Sir Paul's philanthropy have already spread far and wide through the Ranoa Magic Kingdom, not just Sharia. In exchange for allowing some of my staff to apprentice under Chef Xiangling, I will allow any businesses operating within the Western District to forgo having to yield tax for three years. I believe that should suffice for your purposes?"
Though he was more than a little confused by Count Schmidt's sudden proposal, Paul maintained a professional smile as he answered, "So long as they're not expected to pay back taxes, I'm more than happy to agree to such terms."
Expecting Paul to negotiate for better terms, Count Schmidt was slightly taken aback. The slums actually cost Sharia money to sustain, so even if Paul had arranged for ten years of tax exemptions, he would have agreed.
"Does Sir Paul not intend to remain in Sharia? With the 'investments' you have made at the Ranoa Magic Academy, I had thought..."
Like most of the Nobles affiliated with the Magic Triumvirate, Count Schmidt had interpreted Paul's act of sponsoring nineteen students as a sign he intended to settle in the region. Why else would he be promoting the growth of the Western District in such a high-profile manner?
Realizing where the misunderstanding lay, the corners of Paul's smile curled upward a little as he explained, "Though I wouldn't mind laying my roots in the Ranoa Magic Kingdom, the Count should recall that, despite my appearance, I'm only twelve years old. There are still a lot of places I want to see and explore, so I'm afraid I won't be settling for quite some time."
"I see..."
Interpreting Paul's words to mean he would be returning around the time the students from the Ranoa Magic Academy were preparing to graduate, Count Schmidt took a moment to deliberate his next words. It was a bit of a gamble, but so long as he could help the Western District thrive in Paul's absence, he should be able to secure the youth's favor upon his return. By then, everyone within Paul's Party of prodigies would be Ranked as a King or Emperor-Ranked Mage or Swordsman. Having the favor of such a force could literally make someone a King...
Though Count Schmidt had no aspirations for the throne, he was a close friend of the King and an ardent supporter of the Second Prince. So long as he could prevent Paul from getting drawn over by the Neris Kingdom or Basherant Dukedom, he would be doing his King and country a significant favor.
"Allow me to amend my previous offer. I will permit the beast peoples of the Western District eight years of tax exemption. In exchange, should Sir Paul and his Party ever return to the North, please consider settling within the Ranoa Magic Kingdom. If that is unacceptable, I would be content so long as you vow to never settle in our affiliate nations..."
Understanding the Count's concerns, Paul adopted an ostensibly friendly smile as he said, "Rest assured, Count Schmidt. While it is only a matter of time before I venture to the Neris Kingdom and Basherant Dukedom, they have no particular allure. I can promise you that if I settle in the North, it will invariably be in Sharia. Though I was not able to attend it myself, I am quite fond of the Ranoa Magic Academy."
Returning a smile of his own, Count Schmidt replied, "Then it appears we have reached an accord. If Sir Paul is willing to sign a magical contract, I can have it drafted and notarized before tomorrow's eve."
"Sure. So long as it's a personal agreement between the two of us and not my Party. Though they serve as my retainers, I regard the members of my Party as friends and companions. I will sign no agreement forcing them to obey or respect the terms issued by another."
Nodding his head, Count Schmidt replied, "Very well. I'll keep that in mind as I draft our agreement. Come by my Estate tomorrow around four in the afternoon. Barring unexpected circumstances, everything will be prepared by then."
Rising at the same time as Count Schmidt, Paul offered a courteous but unsubservient bow before escorting the man to the door. There were a ton of beast people loitering around outside, but due to the presence of the Count's men, they kept a wide berth of the bakery. When the rotund man finally left, taking with him a veritable banquet of food, Paul waited for a few minutes before opening the doors and shouting, "You know the rules! Form a line, youngest to oldest! Anyone that gets caught trying to cut or cheat other people out of their food is barred entry for ten days...!"
As there had been a lot of fights and bullying, Paul, or, more accurately, Ghislaine, had been forced to 'discipline' quite a number of people. That simply resulted in people bullying one another before they got into a line, so Paul had implemented the current system. He had also implemented a policy that allowed the so-called strong to challenge him for the right to a larger portion. However, after witnessing him subdue Mileena in unarmed combat, there were very few people willing to challenge his authority.
Paul might not be a member of the Beast Race, but he had managed to secure his position as the undisputed 'Big Boss' of the Western District...
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After returning to his Manor, located in the wealthiest section of the city, Count Schmidt took a moment to savor Paul's parting gift before cleaning himself up and retreating to the confines of his room. There, he entered a secret room concealed behind a revolving bookshelf before approaching a large, seemingly shattered mirror.
Bringing his hands together, Count Schmidt muttered a rapid incantation that caused the glass shards littering the ground to glisten with magical energy. Then, as if time was flowing in reverse, the fragments raised from the ground, returning to the mirror and reverting it to a complete state.
Shortly after the mirror became whole again, the surface rippled like the surface of a pool before a bald man with a full beard and runes covering his head appeared. His body was garbed in the grey, high-quality robes reserved for members of the Mage's Court, but the runes glistening on its surface denoted him as an Elder, one of the few Emperor-Ranked Mages in the Magic Triumvirate.
Without raising his eyes from the document he was reading, the ancient-looking man stated, "Earth Saint Schmidt, it's good to see you again. Tell me, is there a matter you wish to report to the Mage's Court?"
Bowing despite his status as a Count, Schmidt replied, "I'm honored that the Archmage is the one to receive my port. As for my purpose, I wished to inform the King of an accord I've reached with the exiled son of House Notos. He has agreed to a magical contract stipulating he will not affiliate with the Neris Kingdom or Basherant Dukedom."
Raising his head, the elderly Archmage revealed icy blue eyes that pulsed with magical energy. Paul was a popular topic among the Mage's Court as of late, not because he was a particularly interesting person, but because of his association with the Artifacts known as Visions.
"The Count has done a tremendous service to the Ranoa Kingdom. I will personally apprise the King of your accomplishment during the evening advisory session. Well done."
Bowing a second time, Schmidt could barely keep a smile from his face as he replied, "I am the Kingdom's humble servant..."
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"Ad Astra abyssosque! Welcome to the Adventurers' Guild."
Though he had somewhat anticipated it, Paul couldn't help gawking at the dark-haired, blue-eyed woman greeting him with a perfectly professional smile on her face. Her green and white dress, reminiscent of a maid outfit, perfectly matched her ensemble from the game. The only difference was, much like everyone else that had appeared in the Intersection of Fate, her appearance matched the aesthetic of Mushoku Tensei.
"Katheryne...?"
With her hands neatly folded over her abdomen, Katheryne performed a polite bow as she answered, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Master Paul."
Resisting the urge to ask the short-haired Receptionist if he could see the back of her neck, Paul took a moment to inspect the interior of the booth she was standing in. Numerous books and documents lined a series of shelves at Katheryne's back, but the thing that stood out the most was the wooden door that produced a shadow beneath its base despite open skies existing beyond it...
Tilting her body to obstruct Paul's view, Katheryne calmly inquired, "Are you curious? I would normally prohibit Adventurers from leaping over the counter, but I believe I can make an exception for the Champion."
Though he was tempted to do exactly that, Paul quickly shook his head, saying, "That can wait till later. For now, how about an explanation of how all of this works? Like, how do I increase my Adventurer Rank, and what effect does it have...?"
Nodding her head in understanding, Katheryne pulled out what appeared to be a compass, a runic pyramid, and a four-pronged scepter comprised of a bluish-white, gold, and a strange, watery blue crystal.
"I believe Master Paul has been apprised of his penultimate goal, correct? That being the 'harmonization' of this world and the world of Teyvat."
Seeing Paul nod in affirmation, Katheryne went on to explain, "While the production and dissemination of Elemental Energy are essential, there are several other conditions that must be fulfilled to ensure a stable bridge."
Pushing forward the strange pyramid and compass, Katheryne tapped the top of the former. In response, azure blue runes lit up along the pyramid's surface before the top half abruptly opened. When it did, what could best be described as a holographic projection of the Intersection of Fate, seen from above, formed into existence.
"This is a Lodestone. It needs Elemental Energy to function, but it allows you to map your surroundings. In the absence of Elemental Energy, it has an effective range of around 100m. With a steady supply, its range can be increased almost indefinitely. However, due to the square-cube law, it would require an exponentially increasing amount of Elemental Energy to map the entire planet."
Holding up the compass next, Katheryne explained, "This little device is a Compass. However, unlike an ordinary Compass, it always orients toward the nearest Lodestone. More importantly, so long as you are within range of the Lodestone, you can exhaust a fully charged Vision to teleport the remaining distance."
Raising his brows, Paul asked, "So if the range of the Lodestone covers the entire planet, I can effectively teleport wherever I want...?"
Though she nodded her head, Katheryne answered, "Yes. However, as I mentioned before, mapping the surface of an entire planet with a single Lodestone is virtually impossible. Even if the planet were fully saturated with Elemental Energy, it still wouldn't be enough. Fortunately, you aren't limited to a single Lodestone. More importantly, you have these..."
Holding up the scepter-like device, Katheryne explained, "This object is known as a Beacon. It requires a significant amount of Elemental Energy to power up but functions similarly to a radio tower. If you place it within the influence of a Lodestone, it can drastically enhance its range. As an additional bonus, Beacons function as Teleportation Waypoints so long as they're active. If you created a path linking two Lodestones across a vast distance, you could eventually teleport from one side of the world to the other. Additionally, you can also teleport to individual Beacons, so make sure to place them in convenient locations~!"
Punctuating her words with a friendly smile, Katheryne was somewhat surprised when Paul, with a grim expression on his face, asked, "What's the catch...?"
Fixing her expression and posture, Katheryne calmly explained, "The catch is that you must personally journey to the locations you want to install a Beacon or Lodestone. For the sake of the convergence, you will also need to travel to specific Labyrinths and Dungeons to replace their cores with Beacons. Once substituted, the Beacon will slowly convert the Dungeon into a Domain, a lesser bridge linking the world of Teyvat to this one."
Bobbing his head in understanding, Paul asked, "Let me guess...I increase my Adventure Rank by mapping this world and converting Dungeons into Domains. Is that about it...?"
Maintaining her business-like smile, Katheryne replied, "There are a few more steps, but that about summarizes the basics. The remaining steps include installing Statues of the Seven and distributing a certain number of Visions. However, as both of those require attaining Constellations, I would suggest focusing on exploration. To that end, your Adventure Rank effectively represents the percentage of the world you have explored and spread Elemental Energy to."
"So there aren't any Quests I need to complete...?"
Shaking her head, Katheryne clarified, "There are, but they include things like converting dungeons or eliminating specific threats. If you would like to learn more, please reach Adventure Rank 10. My programming does not allow me to provide information that may jeopardize your life."
Blinking in surprise, Paul remarked, "I'm surprised you actually admitted it. I expected you to pretend to be human or something..."
Adopting a somewhat hurt expression, Katheryne answered, "I can assure you that I am human...the circumstances of my birth, or, more accurately, my creation, are just a little different. You have met Albedo, correct? While our creators are different, we are much the same."
"Ah...that makes you a Homunculus then? Sorry if I offended you before."
Surprised that Paul was familiar with the term, Katheryne inquired, "Has Master Paul studied alchemy?"
Shaking his head, Paul explained, "Not really. It was just part of the meta-knowledge of my world, something that occasionally popped up in various anime and movies. Back when I was exploring your world through a game, some scenes showed you possessing a keyhole on the back of your neck. There were also multiple Katheryne(s) spread around, so everyone in the Genshin community just assumed you were some gynoid or something..."
"I see..."
Though it was a bit disconcerting thinking about someone knowing her deepest secrets, Katheryne did her best not to let it bother her. Instead, she did her duty, explaining, "Your first Lodestone, Compass, and Beacon are provided as a courtesy. Additional Compasses and Beacons cost 100 and 1000 Asura Gold Coins each. As for Lodestones, there are three ways to acquire them. The simplest method is to increase your Adventure Rank. Every ten Ranks will reward you with an additional Lodestone and several other rewards. After that, the only way to acquire additional Lodestones is to construct Statues of the Seven or convert the specified Dungeons."
"Sounds about right..."
Recalling the principle of Equivalent Exchange that Zhongli had quoted on several occasions, Paul didn't bother questioning why the Gods in charge required their supposed Champion to pay for everything. Instead, he just picked up the three freebies before asking, "What about you? Do you stay in here, or can I let you out...?"
Adopting an ostensibly sincere smile, Katheryne answered, "That's what the door behind me is for. Once you have placed a Lodestone in a suitable location, I will emerge to construct a Guild Kiosk around it. After that, any in possession of a Vision will be able to use the teleportation network you have established."
Smiling wryly in response to Katheryne's words, Paul asked, "But I have to plant all the Lodestones and Beacons on my own...?"
Nodding her head in affirmation, Katheryne answered, "Indeed. You might not be aware of this, but Master Paul's status as the Champion makes him the only source of unaspected, better known as Void Elemental Energy. It is what allows you to access the Intersection of Fate and make use of the other seven Elements."
Though he recalled Zhongli and Kusanali mentioning something similar when they broached the subject of Seelie production, Paul hadn't been paying full attention at the time. Now that he heard Katheryne's calm and casual explanation, he couldn't help facepalming as he asked, "Don't tell me I'm supposed to replace Hitogami as the God of the Void...?"
Alleviating Paul's concerns, Katheryne shook her head, explaining, "As far as I am aware, it is Luciana who will replace Hitogami. However, that is so far in the future; I wouldn't concern myself with it. For now, I suggest you focus on increasing your Adventure Rank and simply enjoying life. Let the Gods worry about the more complicated stuff."
"Right..."
Dropping his hand, Paul stared into Katheryne's impeccably blue eyes as he said, "Well, I guess I'll see you around...?"
Cupping her hands over her abdomen, Katheryne responded to Paul's words with a polite bow, saying, "The Adventurers' Guild patiently awaits your return. Ad Astra abyssosque~!"
"..."
Feeling as though Katheryne was kicking him out of the Intersection of Fate, an awkward smile developed across Paul's face as he answered, "Yeah...ad Astra...abyss...?"
"Ad Astra abyssosque. It means 'To the Stars and the Abyss' in one of the most ancient tongues of Teyvat. It represents an Adventurer's willingness to travel to any destination, never ceasing in their pursuit of the truth."
Nodding his head, Paul replied with an off-sounding, "Ad Astra abyssque." He was pretty sure the language Katheryne was referring to was simply the Latin of his original world, but that didn't really help him speak it. Not after he had spent the last twelve and a half years speaking a variation of Japanese...
Returning what Paul interpreted as a slightly judgmental smile, Katheryne replied with a slower, properly enunciated, "Ad Astra abyssosque." before staring directly at him, clearly intending for him to keep trying until he got it right...
...
..
.
Emerging from the Intersection of Fate, the first thing Paul noticed was the heavy aroma of sex on the air. After that, his eyes were drawn to the buxom, wavy-haired brunette sitting at a desk wearing nothing but a pale purple negligee.
Hearing the door open and close, Lisa exhaled a sensual chuckle before looking back and musing, "I was beginning to think you might never come out..."
Rolling his eyes, Paul began to unbutton his tunic and peel off his clothes as he said, "I'm not scared of you..." in a slightly subdued tone.
Adopting a squinty-eyed smile that came across as both captivating and uncanny, Lisa teased, "Excellent. I've only given you a small taste of what I'm truly capable of. It would have been heartbreaking if you got cold feet and scurried off..."
Accentuating her words, Lisa moved the fingers of her right hand with the finesse of a skilled pianist, Electro Energy dancing between her fingertips as she licked her lips in one of the most overtly sensual manners Paul had ever seen.
Though he convinced himself it was the result of the chill present within the room, Paul's body visibly shuddered in response to Lisa's words. She lacked the brutality most people would expect, but Paul was pretty sure that Lisa was a sadist. However, instead of feeling intimidated by her, a faint yet growing anticipation was brewing in his heart. After all, it wasn't for no reason that he permitted women like Ei and Eula to choke him with their thighs...
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Chapter 76: MI76: Cost