Mushoku Impact

Though the Western District was generally off-limits to anyone outside of the Beast Race, Guild personnel and certain merchants were regarded as an exception to the rule.&nbsp;
Much to the chagrin of her would-be suitors, Lisa was well-known within Sharia as one of Paul's many lovers. Some ignored this and tried asking her out anyway, but those that pushed their luck typically ended up in the hospital with advanced electrical burns.
Recognizing Lisa at a glance, the crowd of Beast People parted to let her pass, many greeting or referring to her as 'Big Sis' as she led Roxy toward the center of the gathering. There, they found Paul surrounded by a pack of Beast Race children, a carefree smile on his face as Esme and another girl dangled from his biceps.
"Oh, it appears we missed the show. How unfortunate..."
As the parting of the crowd was pretty obvious, Paul immediately noticed Lisa's presence, his smile becoming even wider as he asked, "Lisa? What brings you around here...?"
Realizing they might be in the way, the children assembled around Paul quickly dispersed at Esme's command. The crowd promptly followed suit, leaving Paul, Ei, Eula, and Fischl as the only ones present from the initial gathering. As for Xiangling? She remained back at the bakery, just in case the 'crisis' had been a diversion.
Waiting until the crowd had finished dispersing, Lisa adopted a squinty-eyed smile as she replied, "There is someone I wanted to introduce you to..."
Looking behind her, Lisa was presently surprised to find Roxy staring at Paul with a somewhat dazed look on her face. It didn't need to be said, but Paul was inarguably one of the more handsome men in the world of Mushoku Tensei. And that was without a Vision.
Adopting a slightly mischievous smile, Lisa's tone became borderline seductive as she intoned an amused, "Roxy~? Still with us~?"
"Huh...?"
Tearing her eyes away from the scene of Paul surrounded by some of the most beautiful women she had ever seen, Roxy craned her head to look up at Lisa, asking, "Did you say something?"
Gesturing toward Paul, Lisa explained, "This is Paul Greyrat, leader of the-"
Interrupting before Lisa could complete the introductions, Roxy's blue eyes became round as saucers as she shouted, "Paul Greyrat!? As in THE Paul Greyrat...!?"
Returning her gaze to Paul, a mixture of fear and curiosity marred Roxy's expression as she recalled the various rumors related to the increasingly infamous exile. Many accounts attested that he was a kind and devoted man who regarded all races as equals. Others depicted him as a monster in the guise of a man, a womanizing scoundrel with an army of enslaved people at his beck and call. The only thing anyone knew for certain was that he was the youngest Sword Saint in history and someone willing to trade even his lifespan for greater power.
Seeing Paul's current appearance and the bevy of beauties surrounding him, Roxy concluded there might be some truth concerning a few of the rumors...
Raising his brows, a fairly cheeky smile developed across Paul's face as he mused, "Oh? You've heard of me~?"
Further inflating Paul's ego, Roxy replied, "Who hasn't? You're one of the most famous people in the Asura Kingdom right now. People are saying you might become the youngest Sword or Water God in history."
Without giving Paul a chance to respond, Roxy looked up at Lisa and asked, "This is the person you wanted to introduce me to? How do the two of you know each other...?"
Since she wasn't sure how much Paul wanted to reveal, Lisa maintained her usual smile as she replied, "Paul and his Party, Einherjar, are the most famous group of Adventurers within Sharia. It would be stranger if I didn't know him."
"Ah..."
Recalling that Lisa was, in fact, a member of the Adventurer's Guild, a faint blush spread through Roxy's already ruddy cheeks. The shock of meeting someone as famous as Paul had left her a little muddleheaded.
Resisting the urge to pat Roxy's head and call her cute, Lisa suggested, "Why don't we move someplace more comfortable to talk? Conversing outside in the dead of Winter is just asking to catch a cold."
With Lisa looking toward him, Paul knew she was putting the ball in his court. In response, he nodded his head and replied, "Sounds good. We were just about to return to Amalie's Bakery. The two of you are free to join us."
Understanding that Roxy might still be a little apprehensive, Lisa followed Paul's words by explaining, "Amalie's Bakery is the most famous bakery in all of Sharia. Even the City's Mayor, Count Schmidt, visits once a month to try out their new menu items."
Hearing Lisa's words, a slight frown marred Roxy's face. She didn't sense any hostility from the predominately female group, but she couldn't shake the feeling she was being lured into a trap. Traveling across the world had given her a special sense when it came to things like this.
Noticing Roxy's apprehension, Paul raised his hands in a placating manner as he said, "You're pretty sharp, huh? How about this? Why don't you look for a place to stay and send me a message when and where you want to meet up?"
Since he had already decided to be somewhat truthful to the unnervingly youthful-looking woman, Paul chose not to pretend as though he had no ulterior motives. Instead, he surprised even Lisa by admitting, "I've been looking forward to meeting with you. Waiting a few more days isn't going to kill me."
Jumping back and away from Lisa, Roxy unholstered her wand, pointing it squarely at Paul's chest as she questioned, "You've been looking forward to meeting me? Why? Just what are you scheming?"
Though his training was screaming at him to move out of the way and to disarm his opponent, Paul did his best to maintain a smile as he replied, "I don't mind answering your questions, but secrets are better discussed in private. When you're ready to talk, send someone to inform me, and I'll be there in minutes."
Sensing no hostility, even as she gathered mana into the tip of her wand, Roxy eventually lowered her hand and asked, "Just tell me one thing...do you really have connections with the Ranoa Magic Academy?"
"Yes...?"
Though he was a little confused by Roxy's question, Paul quickly put two and two together when Lisa directed a playful wink his way. They knew that Roxy had traveled to Sharia with aspirations of attending the Ranoa Magic Academy, so he surmised that Lisa had promised to introduce her to someone that could assist with her admission.
"Hmmm..."
Shifting her gaze from Paul, Roxy took a moment to observe each of the women gathered around him. Fischl was a little more on the modest side, but everyone else had truly enviable figures and appearances.
Feeling annoyed all of a sudden, Roxy clicked her tongue before returning her wand to her sleeve and asking, "So? Where is this famous bakery that Lisa mentioned? I expect you'll be treating me, right?"
Nodding his head, Paul answered, "Sure." before lowering his hands and adding, "It's actually not that far from here. See that two-storey building in the distance? The one with the green roof and the large crowd outside? That's Amalie's Bakery."
Following the direction of Paul's finger, Roxy saw that much of the crowd that had previously gathered around him was currently standing outside a surprisingly luxurious-looking building. She had originally expected it to be an ordinary bakery, but her 20:10 vision allowed her to make out cakes, pastries, and other goods on display.
As sweets were nearly nonexistent in the Demon Continent and relatively rare everywhere else, Roxy couldn't help swallowing hard when she saw the cakes and cookies shaped like various animals. She had been eating nothing but rations for the past three and a half weeks, so the thought of eating sweets at someone else's expenditure quelled most of her previous concerns.
Putting the final nail in the coffin, Paul revealed, "The owner of the bakery is a 'very' good friend of mine, and the Chef working there is colloquially known as the God of Cooking. She can prepare just about anything, even the cuisine from the Demon Continent. Since I'd like us to work together in the future, you're free to eat there without having to pay."
Hearing Paul mention working together, Roxy wiped away the drool at the side of her mouth before staring him in the eyes and asking, "You want to work with me? Why?"
Adopting what he hoped to be a disarming smile, Paul answered, "We'll discuss the details once we get inside. For now, let's just say the rumors regarding me being able to identify especially talented individuals wasn't an exaggeration. I genuinely believe you can become an Emperor, maybe even a God-Ranked Mage in the future."
Opening her eyes even wider than when Lisa first revealed Paul's identity, Roxy retorted, "Have you lost your mind? There's no way someone like me can become a God-Ranked Mage. I can't even use the telepathy my race is known for."
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul left Roxy feeling at an utter loss for words as he said, "That's why I mentioned becoming an Emperor first. Even I'm not sure what it takes to become a God-Ranked Mage, but becoming an Emperor should be pretty simple. You just need the proper knowledge and the requisite amount of mana.
"..."
Though she couldn't deny that mana capacity was vital when determining the Rank of a Mage, Roxy couldn't help feeling as though Paul was looking down on the magical community. If becoming an Emperor-Ranked Mage was as simple as he described, there would be a lot more than a dozen or so in the entire world.
Before Roxy could call Paul out on his ignorance, her mind blanked as Lisa casually manifested an orb of Electro Energy in her palm. Lightning Magic was typically limited to famous King and Emperor-Ranked Mages, so Roxy never expected to see someone from the Guild demonstrating it with such ease. She didn't even hear Lisa chanting.
"Just who are you people...?"
Drawing Roxy's attention back to him, Paul tried to sound mysterious as he replied, "Come with us, and you'll find out."
Furrowing her brows, Roxy left Paul feeling as though he had swallowed a bug as she asked, "Why are you suddenly behaving like a creep? Now I'm not sure I want to follow you..."
Fortunately for Paul, his embarrassed reaction was sincere enough to assuage any doubts Roxy may have had. Her ostensibly disgusted look turned into a marginally amused smile as she asked, "You really are a kid, aren't you? Tell me, was that your attempt to sound mysterious...?"
"..."
Adding insult to Paul's mental injury, everyone except Ei appeared to be amused by Roxy's observations. Lisa even giggled at his expense before adopting a squinty-eyed smile and appending, "He was forced to mature rather quickly. Don't be too hard on him."
Recalling some of the rumors regarding Paul's past, Roxy nodded in response to Lisa's words, revealing, "I actually experienced something similar." before slipping her hands into the pockets of her tanned brown mantle and adding, "We should head inside. My legs are starting to get cold."
Though she was dressed pretty heavily due to the frigid temperatures, Roxy was also wearing a leathery skirt in place of pants or trousers. Her village was located in the far North of the Demon Continent, so she was pretty used to the cold. The only reason she suggested going inside was because she could feel her stomach beginning to grow impatient.
Recovering from his momentary quietude, Paul regained his usual smile as he answered, "Sure thing. And when we arrive, I'll have Xiangling fix you up some hot cocoa. It's quickly becoming one of the most popular drinks in the city."
Hearing the words hot and cocoa, Roxy was unable to prevent her smile from growing larger. Chocolate was a rare commodity typically reserved for members of the nobility, so she was greatly looking forward to eating her fill. Upon seeing her expression, Paul couldn't help recalling his earlier thought about old men luring young children with candy...
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Seeing Roxy kicking her feet and enjoying a crepe with an almost silly smile on her face, Paul couldn't help asking, "You like sweets?"
Broken from her sugary reverie, Roxy adopted a somewhat offended look as she replied, "I don't know what you're talking about."
Contrasting her words, Roxy finished off her crepe with several large bites before asking, "About what you said earlier, the whole 'looking forward to meeting me' thing. What did you mean? How does someone as famous as you know someone like me?"
Though she would ordinarily feel worried about being alone with someone like Paul, Roxy's curiosity far outweighed her suspicion. It helped that everyone they encountered seemed to genuinely respect and admire him.
Having already thought about what he wanted to reveal, Paul was able to sound fairly convincing as he replied, "Back when I was the Heir Apparent of House Notos, a couple of Migurdians came into my employ. I've always been curious about the world beyond the Asura Kingdom, so I ended up nagging them quite a bit about the Demon Continent and the village they originated from."
Understanding what Paul was insinuating, Roxy's mood diminished quite a bit as she asked, "You learned about me from them? What did they say...?"
Since he had actually inquired about Roxy from Rowena and Rianon, the twins Ningguang had hired to tend to the Silkies; Paul didn't have to make things up as he answered, "They said you were a quirky but exceptionally talented girl. That you were unable to use your Race's telepathic abilities but possessed an aptitude for Magic unheard of among your people."
Adopting a self-deprecating smile, Roxy lowered her head as if she were about to nurse her hot cocoa, rebutting, "I'm not 'that' talented. I started practicing Magic more than thirteen years ago and have only reached the Intermediate Rank in Water Magic..."
Resisting the urge to ask Roxy's actual age, Paul struck at the heart of the matter by asking, "Yeah? And who taught you how to master Intermediate Ranked Magic? Who provided you with the funds and resources to grow?"
"..."
Taking advantage of Roxy's silence, Paul went on to add, "According to my sources, you managed to grasp Beginner Ranked Water Magic in less than a week without any prior training. After that, you went on a journey at what, age thirteen? While most Migurdians spend their entire lives in the villages they are born in, you journeyed across the most dangerous Continent in the world as a teen before eventually making your way here, the literal opposite side of the world. If you're lacking in talent, it certainly hasn't stopped you from accomplishing your goals..."
Not expecting such heavy praise from someone she had just met, Roxy became a little teary-eyed as she lowered her head in a vain attempt to conceal her beet-red face. She hadn't felt this embarrassed and happy in a long time.
Not wanting to lay it on too thick, Paul paused to give Roxy time to collect herself. One of the things he had never fully gotten used to was just how 'expressive' people could be in a cel-shaded world. Paul had seen women blush back in his previous world, but it was nothing compared to watching a person's face become borderline incandescent. He was half-expecting steam to begin rising from Roxy's head...
Realizing what Paul was doing, Roxy felt a mixture of gratitude and even great embarrassment as she recalled which of them was supposed to be the child. Paul may look like he was in his early twenties, but he was still just a twelve-year-old boy...
After rubbing her cheeks in an attempt to massage the red out of them, Roxy raised her head to meet Paul's gaze before questioning, "So? What, exactly, do you want from me? If you've been looking forward to meeting me, there must be a reason, right?"
Nodding his head, Paul answered, "There is more to it, but it goes back to what I said before. I genuinely believe you have what it takes to become one of the most powerful Mages in the entire world, so I'd like you to join our group. I can't go into the details unless you agree to join us, but I can promise you won't regret it."
Forcing a skeptical look, Roxy asked, "Oh? And what does your group plan to accomplish? My goal is to become a great Mage and continue traveling the world. I have no intention of becoming enthralled in politics and other complicated affairs."
Raising his brows, Paul countered, "Do you genuinely believe it's possible to become powerful without garnering the attention of Nobles?"
"..."
Unable to refute Paul's words, Roxy stopped to consider her next question before asking, "Then let me put it like this. What kind of risks and rewards can I expect from joining your group? As you pointed out before, I'm more than capable of succeeding independently."
Instead of refuting Roxy's words, Paul nodded his head and said, "You're right. To be perfectly honest with you, my reasons for asking you to join us are entirely personal. I'm genuinely curious to see just how far you can go with the appropriate knowledge and resources. However, if you would rather attend the Academy and pursue a path of your own, I'm not going to try and stop you. Rather, you have my full support."
Pulling out a letter he had secured from the Principle of the Ranoa Magic Academy, Paul passed it over to Roxy, explaining, "I've always been a big supporter of education. Within that envelope, you'll find details related to a full scholarship at the Ranoa Magic Academy. There are no contracts or anything else for you to sign. You simply need to present that letter to the admissions office, and it will cover everything from your book to boarding fees. You'll also receive an allowance of 4 Asura Gold Coins a semester to cover any miscellaneous expenses."
Hearing Paul's explanation, Roxy stared at the envelope in her hands with mixed feelings. She should have been over the moon with excitement, but a strange sense of unease permeated her chest as the envelope seemed to grow heavier in her hands.
Setting the envelope on the table, Roxy returned her gaze to Paul, asking, "And if I choose to join you? Then what...?"
Adopting a smile, Paul left Roxy feeling taken aback as he replied, "That's up to you. It's not like I was planning to force you to follow me and do my bidding. Joining my group just means you'll have access to a few secrets that may jeopardize your life if the wrong people discover you're aware of them. As for the benefits, well, let's just say you'll have access to the type of knowledge and information that countries would fight wars to obtain or keep secret..."
Noticing the seriousness in Paul's eyes, a stark contrast to the casual way in which he provided his explanation, Roxy found herself swallowing hard. She got the distinct impression she was being asked to join a cult or some sort of secret society...
Unfortunately, Roxy's curiosity had often gotten the better of her. Even if Paul's group was a cult, it didn't matter so long as the knowledge and information they provided was accurate. So long as he didn't start asking her to participate in blood rituals and sacrifices, she didn't mind keeping their secrets.
Catching Paul by surprise, Roxy suddenly adopted a serious expression as she said, "I'm in. Let me join your group."
Instead of asking if Roxy was sure about her decision, Paul exhaled a sigh of relief before adopting a genuine smile and saying, "For a moment there, I was afraid you would refuse. It wouldn't have affected our plans, but I'm happy to have you with us."
Reading a little too much into Paul's words, a fairly conspicuous blush spread through Roxy's cheeks as she meekly inquired, "Now what...? I recall you mentioning something about a magical contract..."
Shaking his head, Paul admitted, "To be honest, that was just to gauge your reaction. There is a contract, but it's not the magically binding type. As I mentioned before, I'm a fairly decent judge of people's talent and character. At the very least, there are a few individuals I feel I can trust more than others. So long as I don't betray you, I'm sure you won't betray me."
Following his words, Paul produced his Dendro Vision and explained, "This is what will seal the covenant between us. I'll go into the specifics later, but the most important thing to know is that this object has the power to draw out the potential of those with grand ambitions. They are extremely limited in supply, but I plan to entrust one to you in the near future. I just don't have the correct element right now."
Having given away several Visions, Paul had confirmed that the average person could only bond with a single element. He could ask Lisa or Fischl to let Roxy borrow theirs, but that would prevent her from bonding with a Hydro Vision in the future.
Staring at the grass-colored crystal in Paul's hand, Roxy remarked, "I've never heard of a magical item that could draw out a person's potential. At the very least, not without a considerable drawback..."
Recalling the rumors regarding Paul sacrificing his lifespan to increase his power, a frown marred Roxy's expression. She wanted to become more powerful, but offering her lifespan was taking things a little too far. Her species may live upwards of three hundred years, but some lines should never be crossed.
Understanding what Roxy must be thinking, Paul shook his head and asked, "Remember what I said about people tracking your down and countries going to war? These Visions are the reason. As difficult as it may be to believe, there are absolutely no drawbacks to using them. So long as your ambition remains, it will even prevent you from getting sick and aging..."
Scrunching her face even further, Roxy retorted, "Impossible..." even as her interest in the Vision grew. If Paul was telling his truth, he had in his hands one of the most powerful magical artifacts in the entire world. If rumors regarding its abilities were to spread, Kings and commoners alike would stop at nothing to try and obtain it.&nbsp;
Recalling what Paul had said previously, Roxy became even incredulous as she added, "Assuming what you said is true, you plan to just give me one of these? There has to be a catch..."
Nodding his head, Paul admitted, "Quite a few. They just have nothing to do with the Vision itself. Your biggest concern would be protecting it from the people that will invariably try to steal it from you. Visions only respond to their original user, but that won't deter people from attempting to steal and research them."
As she would also like to research the Visions, Roxy couldn't really refute Paul's words. Instead, she asked, "Where did you obtain your Vision? How many are there? You mentioned something about elements...?"
Amused by Roxy's sudden intensity, a light chuckle emanated from Paul's throat as he returned his Vision to his belt and answered, "We'll talk about the specifics later. Amalie's Bakery is pretty secure, but some matters are best discussed under increased security. For now, why don't you finish up your meal so we can discuss where you'll be staying? You're free to enroll in the Ranoa Magic Academy if you want to, but I imagine that will be the least of your concerns once you hear the rest of my explanation. After all, the Visions are just the tip of a very large iceberg..."
Swallowing nervously, Roxy decided to follow Paul's advice by taking a large gulp of her cocoa. It had long grown cold, but the sweetness of the chocolate had a calming effect on her body and mind. At the very least, she could feel her tensions melting away as a very prominent feeling of excitement began to swell from the pit of her stomach...
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After a fairly long conversation with Ningguang, Paul agreed to meet up with her around the beginning of the fifth month. He was tempted to hurry home in time for his birthday, but the news that Roxy was on her way to Sharia made him hesitant to leave before her arrival.
Though he had no way of knowing when he would summon Varuna, the Hydro Archon, Paul couldn't think of a better candidate to receive a Hydro Vision than Roxy. She had managed to claw her way up to the pinnacle of the world through sheer hard work and effort, so, even though she was an eternal loli, Paul had a considerable amount of respect for the prodigious Migurdian.
With nothing else to do but wait for the arrival of Jean, Barbara, Razor, and eventually Roxy, Paul spent his days training, watching over the construction, educating the younger members of the Beast Race, and generally enjoying life.&nbsp;
If he was being completely honest, Paul felt as though his growth had stunted ever since he entered Sharia. At the same time, he also knew this might be one of the last times he could relax before establishing himself as a powerful and influential figure. Once he became Reida's successor and became entangled with the politics of the Asura Kingdom, his life was bound to be filled with stressors.
Fortunately, Paul didn't have to wait nearly as long as he expected, as, in the midst of Winter, a relatively large convoy carrying materials and goods from the Asura Kingdom entered the City of Sharia. Paul wasn't present to see it arrive, but he received a message from Lisa informing him that Roxy was among the Adventurers serving as an escort.
As he had been dining with Ei, Eula, Fischl, and Xiangling when the courier arrived, Paul didn't immediately set out to try and meet Roxy. Instead, he looked to the girls for advice, asking, "How do you girls think I should go about this? The longer I think about things, the creepier it seems to just approach her out of the blue..."
Though he could have easily managed with his youthful appearance, Paul couldn't shake the feeling that approaching Roxy now was like an old man trying to lure a little kid with confection. He didn't know what to say, much less how to broach inviting her to join his Party, a group filled with women he was actively boning.
Never one for subtlety, Ei suggested, "If she is as you described, a simple explanation of the situation should suffice. She would learn far more while traveling with us than attending the Ranoa Magic Academy."
Rather than immediately rejecting Ei's idea, Paul briefly considered the banes and boons of such an approach. The older Roxy was an incredibly rational woman, but that was when she was in her late thirties or forties. He didn't know exactly how old she was at the present moment, but she was still pretty naive even during her tutelage of Rudeus, something that would have initially taken place around ten years from now.
By informing Roxy of the truth, at least a version of it, Paul was basically binding the young Migurdian to their cause. Sure, it might be the 'best' for everyone involved, but it didn't change the fact they would be taking hold of her life. He had done the same with Ghislaine, but Paul excused that as she kind of needed someone to look after her.
In an effort to provide Paul with an alternative, Eula suggested, "If you're worried about her growing attached to you, why not send her to the Strife Zone?"
Raising his brows, Paul asked, "What makes you think I'm worried about that?"
Without missing a beat, Eula replied, "You can be overly sentimental at times. If a woman were to travel with us, they would eventually begin to feel left out if they were the only one denied your affection. After enough time has passed, they would feel compelled to leave the Party unless you proactively convinced them to stay."
As similar thoughts had crossed his mind in the past, Paul found himself unable to refute Eula's words. However, instead of beating himself up over it, he just shrugged his shoulders, adopted an awkward smile, and said, "I suppose this is a different world. So long as it doesn't bother you girls, I'm sure I can adapt pretty quickly."
In response to Paul's words, Ei, Eula, Fischl, and Xiangling exchanged glances. Ei and Eula weren't particularly bothered by the situation, but Fischl and Xiangling still had a bit of possessiveness towards Paul. They were in the camp of girls that had accepted they had to share the same man but preferred when it was just Paul and themselves.
As the two girls seemed to be conversing with just their eyes, the tense atmosphere was promptly shattered when Esme and a few of her recent followers burst into the room, shouting, "Boss! Come quicknya! There are baddies trying to stir up trouble...!"
Though she still had a verbal tick, Esme's speech had improved by leaps and bounds ever since Paul told her it was her responsibility as the Little Boss to set a good example for the other children. She received the most instruction from Paul and his group, so her growth was rather monstrous.
Rising to his feet, Paul replied, "Lead the way." without bothering to ask for the details. It didn't matter if Esme was making a mountain out of a molehill. During a crisis, even a moment's hesitation could spell disaster for the potential victims.
With Esme's group leading the way, it wasn't long before Paul learned the reason for her urgency. A group of fairly powerful Beast Race Adventurers had entered the city along with the recent convoy and were attempting to receive free room and board by asserting their dominance.
Since Ghislaine was currently leading a hunting party to secure meat and other supplies from the forest, it fell to Paul and his group to deal with any 'strays' that happened to wander into their territory uninvited. Fortunately, they were exceptionally good at it.
Activating his Dendro Vision, Paul manifested vines to restrain two of the assailants while surprising a man that resembled a gorilla with a punch to the face. The latter seemed like the strongest of the group as he was just standing back and intimidating the crowd while his lackeys kicked around the owner of a recently established tannery.
"Who the hell...!?"
Since Paul was just gauging the man's strength, he held back quite a bit with his punch. With his current strength, it was terrifyingly easy to blow up a person's head or punch clean through them, so he had to be careful if he wanted to avoid killing his opponents.
While people in the surroundings celebrated by shouting out things like, "Boss!" and "Teach these strays a lesson!" Paul was cracking his knuckles with a smile on his face as he said, "I'm only going to say this once. If you intend to stay in our community, you have to follow the rules. If you have a problem with that, your options are to leave or suffer the consequences. Which will it be?"
Snorting through his nose, the gorilla-like man raised himself to his full height of 218cm as he said, "Among the Beast Race, the strong make the rules. A shitty human brat like you should mind his own business."
Maintaining his smile, Paul said, "Wrong answer." before stepping forward like a blur. The gorilla-like man puffed out his chest as if he were about to drum it, but he wasn't even able to unleash a battle cry before Paul sent him flying with a spartan kick.
Demonstrating the resilience the Beast Race was known for, the gorilla-like man quickly recovered after tumbling head over heels seven times. Fortunately for him, he seemed to understand that they were engaged in a contest of strength as he promptly stripped away his upper body armor and weapons before charging toward Paul on all-fours.
Resisting the urge to tear away his own tunic, Paul leaned forward with a battle-crazed smile on his face as he shouted, "Come get some, banana breath...!"
Intending to do just that, the gorilla-like man leaped once he reached the halfway point between him and Paul, arms raised over his head in a very obvious precursor to a smash. Paul could have easily dodged to the side, but such actions were generally frowned upon by members of the Beast Race. Instead, he performed a half-squat, tensing the muscles in his body as a Beast Race child shouted, "He's about to do the Shoryuken...!"
While several other Beast Race children shouted and cheered, Paul shot up into the air, his fist connecting with the gorilla-like man's jaw as he landed a devastating uppercut using the man's momentum against him. Then, as the latter traced a beautiful arc through the air, he touched down on the ground before kicking off with tremendous speed, shouting, "Ever been air juggled!?"
Having suffered a concussion, the gorilla-like man couldn't process Paul's words as the world spun around him. The only thing he knew was that he had picked the wrong opponent as a series of painful impacts prevented him from hitting the ground. After that, darkness overtook his vision until he awoke several hours later in the unfinished but still functional hospital wing.
Realizing he had knocked the man unconscious, Paul prevented his head from hitting the ground as he lowered him down and shouted, "Someone bring over a stretcher!" Then, seeing the man's lackeys staring at him with vindictive glowers on their animalistic faces, he adopted a fairly malicious smile and said, "Make that three..."
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While Paul was busy performing his duties as the Big Boss of the Western District, a youthful-looking girl with blue hair that appeared to shine green in the setting sun was making her way through the streets of Sharia along with a markedly more mature woman with wavy brown hair and expensive purple clothing. At a glance, most people would peg the former to be 10-11 years old, but the truth of the matter was that she was nearly the same age as her escort.
Noticing that the buildings were becoming increasingly shoddy as they advanced, the youthful-looking girl began to feel wary as she looked up at the much taller woman and asked, "Miss Lisa, are you sure this is the right way to go? I can't help feeling as though we're about to reach the slums..."
Aware of the rumors regarding the Magic Triumvirate's slave trade, the blue-haired girl was understandably suspicious of her guide's intentions. Her guide may be a celebrated member of the Adventurer's Guild, but the organization wasn't exactly free of corruption.
Amused by her acquaintance's remark, Lisa covered her mouth to stifle a giggle before surprising the girl by answering, "The place we're heading can, indeed, be considered a part of the slums. More specifically, we are heading to the Western District, the location of a dedicated community of Beast People."
Stopping in place, the blue-haired girl brandished a magic wand as she asked, "What are you after? If you think I'm easy to take advantage of due to my appearance, you're sorely mistaken..."
Without losing her smile, Lisa looked towards her vigilant charge and said, "Please put your wand away, Miss Roxy. As I said before, the person I'm introducing you to has tremendous sway within the Academy. He just so happens to be the 'Big Boss' of the Western District, so-"
Interrupting Lisa's explanation, the sound of exuberant cheering reached the two girls. It was currently the dead of Winter, so sounds had a habit of traveling further due to the limited pedestrian traffic and the presence of snow.
Understanding what must be happening, Lisa's smile became even more prominent as she said, "If you're truly concerned, you're free to return to the Guild. I can always arrange a meeting between the two of you at a later date and in a far more secure location. However, if you follow along, I can all but guarantee you'll see something interesting..."
Without turning to see if Roxy was following her, Lisa sped up her steps as she made her way towards the sound of cheering. Her actions made Roxy feel even more suspicious, but, at the same time, she couldn't help feeling a little curious. Curiosity was everything to an aspiring Mage, so while her reason was telling her to be cautious, her inquisitive nature was telling her to move forward, never back.
"Damnit, Roxy...what are you getting yourself into...?"
After muttering to herself under her breath, Roxy slipped her wand into the holster in her sleeve before raising her hand and shouting, "Lisa! Wait for me...!" as she hurried to catch up.
...
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Chapter 83: MI83: Mystique