Mushoku Impact

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...
...
..
.

"You're telling me the 'secret' to increasing a persona's aggregate mana and becoming a powerful Mage is to simply 'keep casting' until they run out?"
A day after her initial encounter with Paul, Roxy had met up with him early the following day to continue their discussion from the previous night. He had promised to disclose to her the 'secrets' of Magic, so she had stayed up the entire night awaiting their chat.
Before answering Roxy's question, Paul emptied the contents of his coffee cup, a contented sigh escaping his lips before he adopted a relaxed smile and said, "It's a little more convoluted than that. The important thing is to start training at an early age, preferably during your developmental years. If you need proof, look at your own situation. I'm sure you can cast many more spells now than when you first started, right?"
"..."
Though she couldn't refute Paul's words, Roxy refused to believe that the secret to becoming a powerful Mage was simply casting more Magic. If that were the case, people would have figured it out a very, very long time ago. Right...?
Understanding Roxy's confusion, Paul said, "Don't misunderstand. Talent and aptitude are tremendously important. However, even they take a back seat to things like general knowledge, intent, and imagination. So long as you understand the physical process of what it is you're trying to do, you can even forgo things like chanting entirely."
Demonstrating his point, Paul held up his right hand to chantlessly cast a Beginner Rank Healing Spell. He wasn't particularly gifted at Magic, but it had become easier ever since he started taking it easy during his training. He imagined his proficiency with Touki was slowly decreasing, but he was confident he could surpass his previous level with relative ease so long as he made an effort.
Seeing Paul use chantless Healing Magic, surprise colored Roxy's face as she asked, "You can cast Magic chantlessly? Weren't you supposed to be a Swordsman?"
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul allowed his spell to dissipate as he answered, "Yeah. To be perfectly honest, I'm pretty terrible at controlling my magic power. Despite that, I can still cast a handful of spells without the need to chant. If that isn't convincing enough, you just need to look at people like Lisa and Xiangling. They're able to cast Intermediate and even a few Advanced-Ranked spells without chanting."
"..."
Though her instinct was to refute what Paul was saying, Roxy doubted he would attempt to fool her with such a brazen statement. After all, it wasn't exactly difficult to confirm if he was telling the truth. She just needed to ask Xiangling or Lisa to perform Intermediate or Advanced Magic without chanting.&nbsp;
"Okay, let's presume you're telling the truth. What's the most effective way to go about increasing my Mana? I may look like this, but I'll have you know I'm not a child."
Seeing Roxy adopting a somewhat grumpy, ostensibly threatening look, Paul couldn't help smiling as he said, "I'm well aware of that. Still, based on what I've been able to gather, your race's developmental phase should be between the ages of twenty and forty. We somewhat confirmed this with the twins I told you about previously, Rowena and Rianon. It wasn't easy getting them to a point where they could cast even Beginner-Ranked spells, but they managed to advance to the Intermediate Rank after half a year."
Furrowing her brows, Roxy asked, "Half a year? That seems more than a little exaggerated. Where are they now?"
Shaking his head, Paul countered, "It really isn't. All it takes to advance to the Intermediate Rank is time, effort, and access to resources. Since their sole responsibility was helping oversee the Silkie farm, the twins had a lot of free time to practice Magic. They were also provided delicious food and ample time to rest. It would be weirder if they didn't make progress."
"..."
Lowering her head, a pout formed on Roxy's face as she considered Paul's words. She didn't like how casual he was about it, but his words did make a lot of sense if viewed objectively. There was still a chance he was lying to her, but she had witnessed several Beast Race children making use of simple spells.
While Beast Race Mages were not unheard of, they were rare enough that you could live your entire life without encountering a single one. It could be assumed they would be a little more common in a place like the Magic Triumvirate, but they would have eventually spread their influence to the rest of the world.&nbsp;
"It just can't be that simple..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul replied, "You'll find out soon enough. I told you before, but you're free to eat to your heart's content now that you're a part of our group. You should cast something like Water Ball over a bucket and exhaust as much of your Mana as you're comfortable with expending. If you keep a record of how many spells you cast, you should notice the number increasing on a near-daily basis. Eventually, you'll get so bored of repeating the chant that you're able to forgo it entirely."
"..."
Imagining herself standing over a bucket and casting the same Beginner Ranked spell dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of times a day, Roxy was starting to understand why most Mages didn't pursue such a route. It must be incredibly dull to repeat the same thing over and over again like a muscle-brained Swordsmen...
Noticing the disappointment in Roxy's countenance, Paul asked, "What's wrong?" in a curious tone.
Shaking her head, Roxy replied, "I just thought there would be more to mastering Magic than simple repetition..."
"Ah...that's just a gatekeeping tactic of the magical community. If there were a bunch of powerful Mages roaming about, it would be even harder to acquire already limited magical ingredients and resources. By making people believe that Magic is rare and limited to a privileged few, they're able to maintain a monopoly over it."
"Hmmm..."
Though she felt like Paul's words were a gross oversimplification of the truth, Roxy didn't call him out on it. Instead, she asked, "Is there anything else I should be doing? As vital as mana capacity is, there must be other requirements to becoming a powerful Mage."
Shaking his head, Paul argued, "With sufficient magical power and control, something as simple as a Stone Cannon can pierce through rampart walls and smash Saint-Ranked Barrier Magic. If you think that sounds ludicrous, you simply lack imagination."
In an effort to prove his point, Paul activated his Lesser Regeneration, a pale green aura exuding from his body as he explained, "This is a version of Healing Magic that can last indefinitely so long as the person casting it has a sufficient supply of Mana. In this state, anything short of destroyed organs or severed limbs can be healed automatically."
Befuddled by Paul's words, a look of disbelief marred Roxy's expression as she asked, "Where did you learn such a spell? I've visited the capital city of the Holy Country of Millis, and I've never seen or heard of such a convenient spell."
Deactivating the spell, a fairly smug expression developed across Paul's face as he replied, "I didn't learn it, per se; I helped to create it. So long as you understand the process of what you're trying to do, creating spells is surprisingly simple. I just prefer swordsmanship over Magic, so I never really got into it."
"..."
Instead of verbally responding to the ridiculousness of Paul's statement, Roxy took a moment to massage her forehead as she considered what he was saying. Even she could tell that Paul didn't really have an aptitude for Magic, yet, as if it didn't matter in the least, he was able to perform feats even Intermediate Ranked Mages would struggle with.
Taking advantage of Roxy's silence, Paul suggested, "For now, you should focus on confirming whether or not you can increase your Mana using the method my group has pioneered. Once you acknowledge that I'm not just pulling your leg, we can go over deconstructing real-world phenomena to create powerful spells and amplify existing Magics. If you prefer magical research, that's where things should become super interesting."
Hearing Paul speak with such confidence, Roxy couldn't help thinking he knew what he was talking about. Nearly everything she had been taught contradicted what he was saying, but his handsome face and seemingly genuine smile helped to clear most of her doubts.
Noticing Roxy staring at him with an unblinking expression, an awkward chuckle emanated from Paul's throat. He knew she was pushing thirty, but she sure as hell didn't look it.
Realizing she had been staring, a faint blush colored Roxy's cheeks as she averted her eyes and asked, "Is there anything else I should be doing? I would feel guilty if I was just leeching off of you and your group..."
Shaking his head, Paul answered, "Not right now. I was thinking of asking you to help out at the school we're working on, but that can wait until you have confirmed whether or not I'm telling the truth. Also, never consider yourself a leech. If anything, I'm being pretty selfish by asking you to join us and simply trusting what I have to say. Thanks for that, by the way."
Not expecting Paul to suddenly thank her, much less with a borderline smoldering look on his face, Roxy found herself at a momentary loss for words. Her face had become redder than a cherry tomato, but she was too dumbfounded to avert her eyes or attempt to conceal it...
...
..
.
After an extended breakfast, Paul accepted Roxy's invitation to observe her first bout of mana increasing exercises. Ei came with them, but Roxy did her best not to ask why as she held her hands over a large bucket and chanted, "Let the great protection of water be on the place thou seekest. I call forth a refreshing, burbling stream here and now. Water Ball...!"
Removing the component of the spell that propelled the water forward, Roxy did her best not to blush as the water from her Water Ball sloshed pitifully into the bucket below. If other Mages were to see her 'failing' to execute such a simple spell, they would invariably laugh at her expense.
Fortunately for Roxy, Paul had a general understanding of when he should and shouldn't compliment women, saying, "Not bad. The rate of formation and general stability of your Water Ball is excellent. I'm guessing you have an affinity with Water Magic...?"
Though she was momentarily surprised to receive Paul's praise, a faint smile soon developed across Roxy's face as she answered, "Indeed. I'm able to use Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Healing, Detoxification, and Barrier Magic, but Water is my element of choice."
Recalling something Paul had said the previous day, Roxy's smile quickly turned into a frown as she supplanted, "But you already knew that...didn't you?"
Instead of playing innocent, Paul nodded his head, answering, "Yeah, but only via word of mouth and some insider knowledge. Even then, you never truly know something until you see or experience it for yourself."
"Hmmm...true enough..."
Deciding to trust Paul, Roxy shifted her focus to the half-filled bucket and began chanting a second Water Ball spell. She didn't know what her limit was, but she was hoping to hit at least twenty before collapsing. It was a slow and repetitive process, but she did her best to remain focused so as not to embarrass herself in front of Paul and Ei.
When Roxy initially invited Paul, she was hoping to have him take care of her after she collapsed. The presence of Ei made that less likely, but she did her best not to let it bother her as a feeling of weakness and fatigue quickly spread through both her body and mind.
...
..
.

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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Chapter 84: MI84: Scouting