Mushoku Impact

With weeks turning months, Paul found himself staring up at the ceiling with a listless expression on his face, softly muttering, "I wonder when Jean, Barbara, and Razor are going to return...?"
Lying beneath Paul, or, more specifically, laying on her stomach and allowing Paul to use her butt as a pillow, Eula replied, "There is a good chance they will wait out the Winter. What you should be worrying about is what you're going to do once the mating season begins..."
"Mmm..."
Prompted by Eula's words, Paul recalled the increasing 'enthusiasm' some beast girls had exhibited as of late. He was no longer something as simple as the Big Boss within the beast person community. After everything Paul had done, many regarded him as an honorary member of the Beast Race and, more importantly, their Chief.
Though he was more than content with his current 'harem,' Paul would be lying if he said he wasn't enticed by some of the uninhibited beauties that had been approaching him. He had always had a fondness for mature and shapely women, and that just about described every mature beast person he had ever met.
Giving voice to Paul's thoughts, Ghislaine, who had been lying with her head in his lap, remarked, "You're aroused."
Without missing a beat, Paul casually replied, "The cheeks of a goddess are cushioning my head, and I have a horned-up cat girl nuzzling against my junk. It would be stranger if I weren't aroused..."
Furrowing her brows, Ghislaine matter-of-factly retorted, "I'm not horned up..."
Instead of arguing with the ashen-haired cat girl, Paul just caressed her head. Ghislaine wasn't unduly happy about this, but after a few moments had passed, she resumed sniffing his crotch as if it were perfectly natural.
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In preparation for the forthcoming mating season, Paul coordinated with Count Schmidt to have the Western District made inapproachable to the general public of Sharia. It was common for opportunistic individuals and Slavers to take advantage of the season, and he wasn't going to tolerate such behavior during his stay.
Unfortunately, while Paul's efforts helped to ensure the relative safety of the beast race community, there was little he could do to protect himself. Near the beginning of the ninth month, nearly every male beast person within Sharia began challenging him for the right to challenge Ghislaine to a duel. Inversely, every female began challenging Ghislaine.
Though he was able to best everyone that challenged him, Paul began to regret his decision to stay in the Western District when his clothing began to disappear. Amalie informed him that it would most likely be returned at the end of the season, but it was still annoying to have everything except the clothes on his back stolen. It didn't help that he discovered Esme and her growing group of friends passing around one of his undertunics as if it were some kind of narcotic.
Fortunately, while the mating season continued for three months, only the first few weeks were chaotic. After that, most of Paul's possessions were returned, while others brought him monetary compensation for the items they had inadvertently destroyed. This included Amalie, who, as it turned out, made something of a 'nest' out of Paul's clothes.
After cohabiting with Paul for several months, Amalie had developed more than a passing fondness for him. He had improved her life and the lives of everyone in her community and, more importantly, helped take care of her children. Thus, even though she felt incredibly guilty about it, she was the one that had stolen most of his clothes.
While Paul was initially taken aback by Amalie's confession, he didn't lash out at her as she expected. Instead, the two talked for a while before Paul unfailingly fucked the infatuated cat woman silly. Amalie understood from the beginning that their paths would inevitably diverge. Thus, even if it was only for a single night, she wanted to experience what it was like to be loved by such a 'great' man.
To Amalie's considerable relief and moderate concern, her time with Paul wasn't just a one-off event. Once they crossed the line from cohabitants to provisional lovers, he became considerably more affectionate towards her. It was a little stressful at times, but she enjoyed having her butt and breasts fondled as Paul playfully nibbled the tips of her ears.
Amalie's only regret was that she couldn't keep up with Paul. Even when he invited her to participate in threesomes with Ghislaine, she would be left utterly exhausted long before the event had ended. Paul told her not to worry about it, but Amalie couldn't help feeling a combination of shame and self-loathing.
Since there was very little he could do about other people's self-esteem issues, Paul just did his best to show an interest in Amalie whenever they were together. He didn't prioritize her over other girls, but he did his best to give her pleasant memories of their time together. Fortunately, though he doubted his prayers had anything to do with it, Paul was able to do so without knocking up either her or Ghislaine.&nbsp;
Though he would do his best if push came to shove, Paul wasn't ready to be a father...
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"You've got to be kidding me..."
Reading one of the many letters Rosaria had delivered to him, a dull look was plastered across Paul's face as he asked, "I make it through two mating seasons without incident, and you're telling me I already have a pair of brats running around...?"
After rolling her eyes and crossing her arms, Rosaria coldly retorted, "You spent nearly a thousand hours having sex like wild animals. What did you think was going to happen?"
Cradling his forehead in his left hand, Paul didn't immediately respond to Rosaria's words. Instead, his mind wandered to the memories of his time together with Reida. He would be bullshitting if he said he wasn't fond of the raven-haired woman, but he never expected her to be the mother of his children...
Suppressing a sigh, Paul returned his attention to Reida's poorly penned letter. It informed him that his twins, Aiden and Aria, were living with his parents. She had gotten permission from the King to let them stay there for their safety, but it was only a matter of time before she was forced to relocate them to the capital.
"Hmm..."
After the shock of his sudden fatherhood, very little could surprise Paul. Thus, when he read that Reida wished to nominate him as her successor, he merely hummed before setting the letter aside and picking up the one penned by Ningguang. It provided very little information, undoubtedly as a countermeasure against interception, but encouraged him to prove his loyalty to the King.
Since he had explained his intention to support Ariel rather than starting a war, Paul wasn't too surprised by Ningguang's letter. He also understood the pros and cons of becoming Reida's heir, as they had discussed it more than once during their journey.&nbsp;
"So my options are to be an asshole who abandons his kids, a slave to the Kingdom, or an international criminal...fan-fucking-tastic..."
Though he knew he was to blame, Paul couldn't help feeling that fate had conspired against him. After all, him having children around the same age, or slightly older, as Ariel virtually guaranteed they would be made into her Guardians. If he viewed his children as nothing more than a means to an end, that was arguably a good thing...
Unfortunately, as much of an asshole as he was, Paul wasn't a complete piece of shit. If both of his children had been boys, he might have thought about delaying his return. Since one of them was a girl, he couldn't just let her be shipped off to the Concubine's Palace to protect the Princess. The children of the Royal Family lived in an isolated section of the Palace, but it was only a matter of time before some pretentious piece of shit tried to have his way with her.
Knowing he would never be able to forgive himself if he turned a blind eye to the suffering of his children, Paul didn't have to think about his decision to return. His primary concern was keeping his children and the girls from the Intersection of Fate safe.
Exhaling a sigh, Paul opened the final envelope, a formal summons by the King of the Asura Kingdom, Ansalem Anemo Asura. It gave him until the end of the following year to appear, but Paul knew the sooner he showed up, the better. It didn't exactly scream loyalty to postpone until the very last moment before answering a summons.
Shifting his gaze to Rosaria, Paul questioned, "How did you acquire these letters? I mean, I kind of anticipated you were in contact with Ningguang, but what about these letters from the King and Reida?"
In an almost bored-sounding tone of voice, Rosaria replied, "Though it's still a little sparse, Ningguang's network spans more than just the Milbots Region. When she sent Lisa, Fischl, and Princess Andromeda to the Ranoa Magic Academy, she had several informants follow along."
"Ah..."
Unsurprised by Rosaria's response, Paul returned his attention to the trio of letters, returning them to their respective envelopes as he asked, "How long does it take to send a letter from here to the Strife Zone?"
"Using land routes, around six months. However, if you ask Fischl, she can send over Oz. The odds of him being intercepted while trying to cross the mountains are fairly high, but it's only a sixteen-hour flight."
"Holy shit..."
Though he knew that flight was overpowered, Paul never considered that Oz could cover half of the largest continent in less than a day. If only he had a floating fortress like Perugius...
Amused by Paul's reaction, a rare smile developed across Rosaria's face as she said, "If you think that's impressive, you should see Ganyu. If she transforms into her Qilin form, she can complete the journey in less than an hour. There is a reason she served as the General Secretary and Envoy of the Qixing."
Opening his mouth, Paul wanted to say something but found himself lost for words. He knew Ganyu could transform into a Qilin. When he inquired about it in the past, she had readily shown it to him. At the time, she was only around the size of a small horse, but he recalled that her adult form should be large enough to ferry dozens of people to safety.
Seeing through Paul's thoughts, Rosaria nodded her head and said, "It's said that only the pure of heart can ride a Qilin, but I'm sure Ganyu would make an exception for you."
Scrunching his brows and nose, Paul retorted, "That's not very nice. I may not be pure of heart, but I'm far from evil."
Adopting a faint smile, Rosaria casually countered, "As I see it, you're an irredeemably wicked man. You just balance things out with your relatively caring and compassionate nature..."
Realizing that Rosaria was teasing him, Paul's brows perked up. However, before he could return the favor, she appended, "I'll do it if I have to, but I'd rather not become another one of your victims."
Since it was against his policy to try and force people, Paul just clicked his tongue before shrugging his shoulders and saying, "Your loss."
Rolling her eyes, Rosaria flatly replied, "If you say so." before rising to her feet and adding, "Before I go, there is one last thing I intended to inform you about."
After rising to his feet, intending to see Rosaria off, Paul asked, "What is it?" in a curious tone.
Returning a curt nod, Rosaria explained, "According to reports, a young Migurdian named Roxy Migurdia recently appeared in the Donati Region. They were delayed due to inclement weather, but she should be arriving in the next couple of weeks along with a merchant convoy."
Blinking in surprise, Paul asked, "Are you certain...?"
Rolling her eyes for the umpteenth time, Rosaria retorted, "What reason could I possibly have to lie?" before promptly making her way towards the exit. Paul was about to follow after her, but she left him slackjawed in his original spot when she added, "Try not to knock her up."
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After mulling things over for a couple of days, Paul elected to take Fischl out on a date while the two of them waited for Oz to complete his journey across the Red Dragon Mountain Range.
As it was the first time they had accompanied each other outside of the Western District, Paul couldn't help furrowing his brows as everyone gave him and Fischl a very wide berth. The people of Mushoku Tensei were an extremely superstitious bunch, so they tended to avoid Fischl ever since rumors circulated regarding her being a harbinger of misfortune.
"These assholes..."
Squeezing Paul's hand, Fischl adopted a faint smile as she whispered, "Pay no heed to this ill-mannered lot, for they know not what they do. Fate has brought us together on this most auspicious of days, so let us indulge to our hearts' content."
Adopting a wry smile of his own, Paul squeezed Fischl's hand back and replied, "As you wish, mein Prinzessin..."
Feeling gratified by how Paul had addressed her, Fischl rewarded him with a quick peck on the cheek before pulling him along to one of the few stores that hadn't barred her entry. It was an antique/magical item shop that specialized in processing obscure, borderline occult items, so it was one of Fischl's favorite places in the city.
Hearing the bell to her shop ringing, a youthful-looking girl with pointed ears and long grey hair that obscured milky white eyes looked over from her perch atop a rocking chair and said, "Ah...if it isn't the Prinzessin der Verurteilung. What brings you...oh~?"
Noticing Paul enter alongside Fischl, the seemingly youthful girl stood up and approached them. She barely came up to Paul's chest, but the latter still felt uneasy due to the woman's strange garb, consisting of a tattered grey robe and a dirty, weatherworn shroud that gave off the impression of an old crone that lived in the woods. An aroma of soil and herbs followed her every movement.
Staring up at Paul's face despite her apparent blindness, the presumably Elven woman mused, "You must be the Master of the Abyss. Your aura is certainly not of this world..."
Tensing in response to the woman's words, Paul was about to say he had no clue what she was talking about when Fischl said, "Choose thy words carefully, Witch of the Ancient Relics. Thee never knoweth who could be listening in."
Shifting her 'gaze' to Fischl, a strangely grandmotherly smile developed across the relatively youthful-looking woman's face as she said, "You're in high spirits today. Are the two of you on a date?"
Though she was unable to prevent a blush from coloring her cheeks, Fischl puffed out her chest with pride as she replied, "Forsooth. Mine soul has't forever become interwoven with the Master of the Abyss."
"Oho~"
Adopting an ostensibly lecherous grin, the grey-haired Elf returned her gaze to Paul as she stated, "You're a lucky man. The Prinzessin is a little odd in the head, but she's a good girl. You'd better take care of her."
Though he didn't need others to tell him to take care of his women, Paul still nodded his head in response to the Elven woman's words, answering, "Leave it to me."
Returning a nod of her own, the as-of-yet-named Elf turned around and asked, "So? What compelled today's visit? While I enjoy the ambiance of my shop, it isn't exactly the ideal location for a date."
Shaking her head, Fischl's face turned even redder as she stated, "With the person thee loveth, all places art suitable for a date."
Amused by Fischl's words, the grey-haired Elf issued a soft chuckle as she made her way over to her rocking chair and sat down. Once she had made herself comfortable, she closed her eyes and said, "You're welcome to make use of the back. Just stay out of the basement and my bedroom."
Before Paul could think to ask why they would want to make use of the woman's house, Fischl responded with a curt, "Thank you, Baba." before dragging him through the door located behind the counter.
Allowing himself to be pulled into the surprisingly normal-looking abode, Paul waited for Fischl to stop before asking, "What's this about? Who is that woman...?"
Exhaling a soft sigh, Fischl dropped her usual speech pattern to explain, "This is one of the only places I can visit that isn't operated by the Guild. Baba sheltered me for a short while when I was searching for a place to stay. Most people believe this shop to be cursed, so it wouldn't hurt her business even if I stayed here..."
"Fischl..."
Combing his fingers through Fischl's perennially smooth hair, Paul briefly scoured his mind for words of comfort before deciding to simply place a kiss on her lips. His stay at the Sword Sanctum had compromised much of his education as a Noble, so there were times when his trained eloquence failed him. Fortunately, especially when it concerned matters of the heart, actions generally spoke louder than words...
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With the distance between Sharia and the Strife Zone requiring Oz to fly for roughly sixteen hours, Paul's message reached Ningguang around 3 AM the following day.
Though she had been asleep at the time, Ningguang emerged from her bedchamber without even changing out of her nightgown when she heard that a message from Paul had arrived. It had technically been years since their last communication with one another, so she was eager to hear what Oz had to say.
Standing approximately 90m tall and with a wingspan exceeding 2m, Oz was a relatively large member of the Corvus species with violet feathers that exuded pure Electro Elemental Energy. Its full name was Ozvaldo von Hrafnavines, but it allowed those close to Fischl to refer to it as Oz.
Upon entering the room where Oz was being handfed by Ganyu, a smile developed across Ningguang's face as she said, "Sir Ozvaldo, it's good to see you. How was your journey across the mountains? I hope the Winter conditions did not inconvenience you too much."
"Hmmm..."
Staring back at Ningguang, Oz briefly squinted his eyes before answering, "Several Lesser Drakes beset me, but they easily dispatched due to Mein Fraulein's continuous supply of Electro Energy."
Understanding the implication behind Oz's words, an amused chuckle emanated from Ningguang's throat before she shifted her attention to Ganyu and requested, "Ganyu, can you grab me something to drink? My throat is parched."
Bowing courteously, Ganyu replied, "Certainly." before raising her head and promptly exiting the room. She knew that Ningguang preferred to control the flow of information as much as possible, so she would rather hear what Oz had to say in private before personally conveying it to the rest of their group.
With Ganyu gone, Ningguang initiated things by questioning, "Are Paul and Fischl together at this moment? Can you convey our words in real-time?"
Nodding his head, Oz replied, "It is within my power, but Mein Fraulein is presently asleep. You will need to wait until she awakens if you desire to converse with Master Paul directly."
Exhaling a sigh, Ningguang softly grumbled, "That man can be so careless at times..."
Realizing that Ningguang had misunderstood his words, Oz clarified, "Master Paul is presently awake and patiently awaiting Mein Fraulein's rousing. I believe he is being courteous, not careless."
"Ah...I see...that certainly sounds like Paul."
Crossing her arms, Ningguang adopted a contemplative posture as she briefly considered waiting for Fischl to rouse. In the end, however, her curiosity got the better of her, so she asked, "And? What did our Master have to say? I imagine he entrusted you with a basic message of sorts."
Following another nod, Oz answered, "Master Paul intends to heed your advice and return to the Asura Kingdom around the onset of Spring. For the sake of expediency, he wishes to employ the services of Lady Ganyu so that he can visit his home before proceeding to the Capital City of Ars."
"Hmmm..."
Tapping her chin, a conflicted look developed across Ningguang's face as she considered how Ganyu's absence would adversely affect her plans. It would be fine if she were only gone a few days, but there was a fairly high possibility that Ganyu would want to remain at Paul's side. Ever since she gave her virginity to him, she would periodically get lost in thought as she stared off longingly towards the presumed direction of Paul.
"Ah...wait a moment. You mentioned Paul intends to visit his family? That could work..."
Since she couldn't really refuse if Paul asked for Ganyu, Ningguang's mind immediately came up with a solution that could benefit everyone. She had been stockpiling resources to feed into the Intersection of Fate for quite some time, so she could always rendezvous with Paul back at the Milbots Region around the time he was visiting his family.
Seeing Ningguang get lost in her machinations, Oz snorted through the nostrils of his beak. Ever since Ningguang had dispatched Fischl to the Ranoa Magic Kingdom, he had developed a general disdain for the goal-oriented woman. He knew she was acting in the interests of everyone, but he hated how she seemed to view everyone as little more than a cog in a machine of her making.
Noticing Oz's penetrating gaze, a somewhat wry smile developed across Ningguang's face as she inquired, "How has Fischl been doing? I imagine things have improved since Paul's arrival...?"
Though he briefly squinted his eyes, Oz eventually replied, "Indeed. She would be happier if it were just her and Master Paul, but she has enjoyed the extra companionship. The residents of Sharia have not treated Mein Fraulein with due kindness..."
Exhaling a sigh of her own, Ningguang appeared genuinely apologetic as she said, "For that, you have my deepest apologies. I never imagined that such an incident would occur..."
Unconvinced by Ningguang's words, Oz stated, "I understand that it was not your fault that Mein Fraulein suddenly advanced in age. However, you could have sent Lady Ganyu to retrieve her once she began experiencing difficulties. Having her remain in Sharia was incredibly foolish..."
Furrowing her brows, Ningguang wanted to argue but ultimately decided against it. This was far from the first time she and Oz had discussed this topic, so she knew he wouldn't listen to her justifications. In his mind, she was responsible for everything Fischl had experienced. It didn't matter to him that Fischl was the one that chose to remain in Sharia...
As the tensions within the room reached a palpable level, Ganyu finally arrived with a warm glass of milk. She immediately sensed that something was amiss but knew better than to ask as she carried the glass of milk to Ningguang and said, "Here you are. I added a bit of sugar to help bolster your energy."
Accepting the proferred glass with a smile, Ningguang tried to lighten the mood by asking, "This isn't your milk, is it~?"
With a faint shade of pink coloring her cheeks, Ganyu adopted a slightly pouty expression as she groaned, "Lady Ningguang..."
Restraining a laugh, a teasing smile developed across Ningguang's face as she said, "As adorable as always..." before downing the contents of the glass Ganyu had provided...
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Unaware of the events taking place thousands of kilometers away, Paul had had an affectionate smile on his face as he traced his fingers around the pattern on Fischl's lower abdomen. He knew she was only pretending to sleep, but that didn't prevent him from playing along and admiring her sleeping face...
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"Oh my goodness, Fischl~!"
Upon seeing Paul and Fischl enter the kitchen, Xiangling's face lit up. She wasn't particularly close with the quirky blonde, but that rarely got in the way of her being friendly.
Returning a faint smile, Fischl had to pause for a moment before stating, "The fates align to see our paths cross once again. Harken, Maiden of Flames. Know that it gladdens this Prinzessin to see thee in fair health."
With a wry smile on her face, Xiangling asked, "Did the two of you come here to eat? I can whip something up pretty quickly if you'd like."
Answering in Fischl's stead, Paul requested, "Can you include a bunch of meat? Fischl just spent the last three months camping outside, so she's a little thin around the waist and shoulders."
As Fischl blushed faintly, Xiangling returned a radiant smile as she replied, "Of course! I'm missing a few of the essential ingredients, but I should be able to whip up a Die Heilige Sinfonie. I'll also prepare some cocoa to help warm your bodies~!"
Having memorized the favorite/specialty dishes of everyone that Paul had summoned, Xiangling wanted to prepare Fischl's as a homecoming gift. It was basically just a cold cut platter of thinly sliced meats with some leafy greens, so she could whip it up pretty quickly.
After thanking Xiangling, Paul guided Fishl to the bedroom upstairs before inviting her to take a seat at the private dining table they had set up due to the growing number of patrons downstairs. Paul noticed her staring at the bed with a bit of trepidation, but as he had absolutely no intention of forcing her, he didn't let it bother him as he sat down and asked, "How's Oz? I'm a little surprised he isn't with you."
Touching the ornate eyepatch covering her left eye, Fischl momentarily dropped her facade as she explained, "I have him following a caravan of Slavers. Once they reach their destination, I intend to have Rosaria look into them..."
With the vision of her left eye linked to her Electro Familiar, Oz, Fischl was able to keep track of targets several thousand kilometers away. She could also use it to communicate across vast distances nigh-instantaneously as she and Oz were telepathically linked.
"I see..."
Nodding his head in understanding, Paul paused to consider his following words before asking, "Will you join my Party, or do you intend to continue working as a Surveyor for the Guild? I would honestly like to travel around and spend more time with you..."
Shifting her lime-green eye to the nearby bed, Fischl surprised Paul by asking, "Would you lay with me...?"
"Uh..."
Following Fischl's gaze, Paul found himself at a momentary loss for words. He didn't think she meant anything explicit, but it wasn't easy to know for sure.
"If you want...?"
Offering a faint smile, Fischl scooched a little closer to Paul before silently leaning her head against his shoulder. A few years prior, she had regarded him as her destined lover. Now, Fischl wasn't quite sure what to think. All she knew for certain was that she wanted to feel the warmth of another...
"I'm tired of being alone..."
Feeling as though he could sense the loneliness exuding from Fischl's body, Paul found himself embracing the slender woman with his right arm. Then, even though he was more than a little uncertain whether or not it was the correct decision, he guided Fischl to look up at him, whispering, "Then stay with me..." before planting a chaste kiss on her lips...
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Though he encountered more than a handful of Dragons and Drakes along the way, Gal ultimately managed to pass through the narrowest section of the Red Dragon Mountain Range without too much trouble. Afterward, he spent the better part of three weeks slowly meandering toward the center of the Strife Zone.
"That's one hell of a spear..."
Seeing the aftermath of Zhongli's and Kusanali's attack on the Markien Mercenary Country, Gal couldn't prevent a cold sweat from breaking out across his body. He was confident that he could slay even a God Ranked Mage, but there was no way he could stop a 300m long spear capable of piercing through a Saint-Ranked Magical Barrier as if it were paper.
While thinking that Magic should be outlawed altogether, Gal made his way to the ruined palace located at the center of the now verdant city. It was a little jarring to see so much greenery in the middle of a wasteland, but Gal didn't let it bother him as he approached the group of bandit-like men guarding the entrance to the palace.
Noticing Gal's approach, the leader of the group was about to call out and tell him to stop when his vision suddenly spun. By the time he understood what had happened, darkness was creeping in from the edge of his vision as Gal casually bypassed the headless bodies of himself and his friends...
Cutting down everyone in his path, it wasn't long before Gal found himself in the center of a ruined throneroom, his blue eyes fixating on a short girl with braided brown hair, drooping, fur-covered ears, and a relatively thick tail covered in white fur with black spots. She was garbed in a tribal outfit that resembled the clothes of an exotic dancer, but the thing that caught Gal's attention was the massive, oversized hunk of metal that appeared to be the girl's sword.
Shouldering his comparably small yet resplendently golden sword, an amused smile developed across Gal's face as he remarked, "It's pretty rare to see a member of the Beast Race using something other than a machete or a meat cleaver. Tell me, brat, do you know how to use that thing?"
Gripping the handle of her oversized sword, the petite girl suppressed her instinctual urge to run away as she asked, "Why are you doing this? If you wanted to occupy the palace, you could have just challenged me directly. What's the point of killing everyone?"
Resisting the temptation to cut the girl down for ignoring his question, Gal squinted his eyes and replied, "I'm not here to kill everyone. I'm here to investigate the Strife Zone and deliver a message. Those fools got in my way and paid the price. Now, tell me, do you have any connection with the people that attacked the Markien Mercenary Country? Consider your next words very carefully..."
Despite feeling an almost overwhelming desire to run away, the diminutive beast girl stood her ground as she answered, "My name is Anko, leader of the Markien Mercenary Country's Assault Squadron. I have no connection to the people who attacked our country..."&nbsp;
"Hmm..."
Sensing no falsehoods in the beast girl's words, Gal briefly considered his next course of action before asking, "What do you know about the people responsible? Was it truly just two people that did all this...?"
Looking around the throne room, Gal felt as though he was in the center of the Great Forest. Thorn-covered roots and vines covered nearly every surface, but the thing that stood out the most were the flowering plants and berry bushes. A spell that could produce fruit-bearing plants from inert stone was something the Asura Kingdom would pay handsomely to acquire or do everything in their power to erase...
Nodding her head, Anko tentatively explained, "It was two women, one with pale skin and the other with dark skin. The people of the Strife Zone have come to know them as the Spear God and the Plant God. As for their location and why they attacked the Markien Mercenary Country...if I knew that, I would have hunted them down myself..."
Though she hadn't been particularly close to the people in charge of the Markien Mercenary Country, Anko was nevertheless loyal to them. A few of their members had saved her when she was being trafficked as a slave, so she had dedicated the last ten years of her life to repaying that debt.
Noticing the fiery glimmer in Anko's eyes, an approving smile developed across Gal's face. If she had been a bit younger, he might have taken her as his apprentice. Instead, he eyed her massive sword as he asked, "Has the Water God come through here?"
Furrowing her brows, Anko tightened her grip on her sword as she asked, "What business do you have with Master?"
Clicking his tongue, Gal muttered, "Figures..." before turning around and adding, "When that old bat returns, tell her that Sword God Gal Farion is waiting for her at the Capital of the Shirone Kingdom."
Without waiting for Anko's response, Gal departed the throne room with a casual gait. The moment he left, Anko's legs immediately gave out as she plopped to the ground with a thud. Her instincts informed her that Gal was exceptionally dangerous, but she never expected his identity to be the Sword God...
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Despite nearly three years passing since her separation from Paul, Reida appeared even younger than during their initial encounter. As a result, the eyes of every man and woman she passed were glued to her as she made her way through the corridors of an underground compound, guided by an exotic beauty with pale-blue hair and peculiar, red and black horns.
After reaching their destination, the pale-haired beauty, Ganyu, turned to Reida and politely informed, "Lady Ningguang can be found within. Please try not to create a scene."
Returning a confident smile, Reida said, "Relax. I may have come here at the King's behest, but I have personal reasons for wanting to meet with your leader. I won't draw my sword unless your people attack first."
Instead of responding to Reida's words with her own, Ganyu offered a polite bow before opening the door to an underground conference room. Inside, a fully matured Ningguang, flanked by Zhongli and Xingqiu, could be seen sitting at the far end of a long table.
Though she was briefly stunned by Ningguang's appearance, Reida's expression didn't show it as she entered the room and remarked, "Kids grow up fast these days..."
After giggling in response to Reida's words, Ningguang gestured to the seat further from her, suggesting, "Please, take a seat." before turning to Xingqiu and adding, "Xiangqiu, be a dear and prepare tea for our guest."
Bowing low, the slender yet mature bluenette replied, "As you will, Lady Tianquan." before stepping off to the side to prepare some tea. Reida's eyes briefly followed her, but they quickly snapped back to Ningguang as she said, "Before we get down to business, there's something I needed to inform you about."
Maintaining a business-like smile, Ningguang casually inquired, "Does it have anything to do with your, or should I say, Master Paul's twins...?"
Unsurprised by Ningguang's inquiry, Reida simply nodded her head as she answered, "Yeah. I was a little careless and allowed that brat to knock me up. Since you seem to be the mastermind behind everything, I wanted to ask for your opinion before their true identities came to light. I can't keep them a secret forever."
Having anticipated Reida's request, Ningguang inclined her head toward the thick stack of papers sitting in front of the God-Tier Swordswoman as she explained, "That document has two parts. The first half details the actions you should take over the next three years, while the second is a proposition to your King. I believe you are well aware of this, but Paul has no intention of opposing the Asura Kingdom. It is the First Prince and his faction of fools who seem determined to make him into an enemy."
Nodding her head, Reida replied, "I am well aware of that. However, the First Prince has never been the type to listen to reason. He is weak and inept, so he fears and resents those more capable than him. Unless Paul is willing to bind himself through a magical contract, I can't imagine the First Prince allowing him to move freely within the Asura Kingdom..."
Adopting a mischievous smile, Ningguang countered, "I considered that when I drafted the proposal to your King. So long as you deliver it to him within the next two years, everything should be sorted."
Furrowing her brows, Reida wanted to say that Ningguang was severely underestimating the First Prince's faction but ultimately decided against it. Instead, she picked up the stack of papers and requested, "Can you get someone to read this for me...?"
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Chapter 80: MI80: Machinations and Fate