Mushoku Impact

"Master...shall I wash your back...?"
Having already made himself comfortable in the square-shaped bath, big enough for five people, Paul shook his head and said, "Maybe in a bit. For now, why don't the two of you take the seats next to me...?"
Since Barbara had entered alongside Ganyu, Paul made sure to address both girls to avoid any future problems. Barbara's mentality had improved during her stay at the Sword Sanctum, but there were still moments when her jealousy flared.
"Excuse/Pardon me..."
With Barbara sitting on his right and Ganyu sitting on his left, Paul wasn't entirely sure where to direct his gaze. As a result, he kept his eyes closed, head reclined against the thick padding that surrounded the tub.
Shattering Paul's false meditative state, Ganyu leaned her head against his shoulder and whispered, "It's been a long time since I've bathed with Master. I've missed it..."
"Mmm..."
Wrapping his arms around the shoulders of both girls, Paul pulled them a little closer, silence lingering between them for several seconds before he asked, "So what brings you to Sharia? Not that I mind, mind you..."
Though she didn't respond immediately, her eyes focused on the profile of Paul's face, Ganyu eventually replied, "Beidou has been killed. Most of her fleet has been destroyed, and the remaining ships seized..."
Snapping open his eyes, Paul immediately became more alert as he sat up straight and exclaimed, "What the fuck?" followed by, "Who killed her?" in a much more severe tone.
Nodding her head, Ganyu went on to reveal, "We don't know the specific details as of yet, but we do know she was attacked and defeated by the Sword God, Gal Farion. When we received notice of what had happened, Lady Ningguang immediately ordered me to come to you."
Understanding why Ningguang would send Ganyu rather than waiting for an investigation to be conducted, Paul's expression remained serious as he said, "I'll open the Intersection of Fate tonight. We'll find out the truth from Beidou directly."
Satisfied that Paul had understood Ningguang's intentions, Ganyu's faint smile became more prominent as she nuzzled her head against him and whispered, "Until then, please let me remain at your side..."
"..."x2
Feeling guiltier every time Ganyu spoke, Paul eventually forced a smile as he said, "You know...you could always stay with me. I'd have to be an idiot not to want you around..."
Understanding that Paul was expressing his sincerity, Ganyu's expression melted into a dreamy smile as she uttered, "I'd like that..." before adopting a marginally sadder look and asking, "But what about Lady Ningguang...?"
Answering in Paul's stead, Barbara pointedly remarked, "I don't see the issue here. Paul was the one chosen as our Master, not Ningguang. If he wants you at his side, you should stay."
Though she appreciated Barbara's support, Ganyu kept her focus on Paul, clarity gradually returning to her painting-like irises as she whispered, "If only things were that simple...isn't that right, Master...?"
Exhaling a weary sigh, Paul wanted to refute Ganyu's words but couldn't. As much as a part of him wanted to hide away and indulge himself in a life of lust and sensuality, he just couldn't. The past him might have been able to, but the moment he transcended death and reincarnated into a fantasy world, an ever-expanding list of things he wanted to do had formed in his mind.&nbsp;
Paul had already wasted one life...he couldn't waste another...
Shaking his head, Paul's expression and tone softened as he said, "Forget about that. For now, the only thing that matters is that we're together like this..."
Though his words were a response to Ganyu, Paul made sure to squeeze both her and Barbara before trading kisses with both of them. It had been years since the last time he saw the mesmerizing blunette. He didn't want to waste even a moment fretting over the few negative aspects of his life.
With a beautiful woman in both arms, even reasonable complaints would come across as whining to those envious of his position...
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After lingering in the bath for so long that the water had become cold, Paul led Ganyu and Barbara upstairs to find Jean, Ei, Eula, Razor, Fischl, Roxy, Xiangling, and Ghislaine waiting for them to arrive. Paul had asked Ghislaine to retrieve everyone before getting into the bath, so he gave her a pat on the head while Roxy remarked, "She's beautiful..." in response to seeing Ganyu for the first time.
Feeling a little more confident now that everyone had gathered, Paul playfully retorted, "You all are." before punctuating his statement with a wink. His words and actions managed to elicit a faint blush from the petite Migurdian, but she quickly recovered to ask, "Is it true she can transform into a white beast?" while scrutinizing Ganyu from horn to toe.
Though Ganyu would have readily demonstrated her ability to transform, Paul answered, "Questions like that can wait for later. For now, we need to discuss the reason for Ganyu's visit and our plans for the future. As much as I've enjoyed our stay in Sharia, there is a much larger world waiting for us."
With everyone's attention focused on him, Paul took a moment to make himself comfortable next to Ghislaine before directing Ganyu to sit next to him. Barbara had already taken the initiative to sit next to her sister, so he didn't have to worry about choosing between them.
Once he had made himself comfortable, Paul briefly exchanged glances with everyone around the table as he revealed, "The Sword God has killed Beidou and assisted in the destruction of her fleet. We'll know the specific details once I resurrect her, but-"
Hearing Paul mention resurrecting people, Roxy couldn't help exclaiming, "One moment. What do you mean, 'once I resurrect her.' Resurrection is a God-Ranked Healing Magic."
Though she had been given some insight into the Intersection of Fate and the nature of Visions, this was Roxy's first time hearing about Paul's ability to resurrect the spirits he had summoned. If he were telling the truth, that would put him in a similar category as Perugius, one of the most powerful and influential people in the world.
Before Paul could provide some clarification to counter Roxy's outburst, Ghislaine suddenly squeezed his hand and asked, "Do you intend to fight against the Sword God?" in an audibly nervous tone. She had started to believe that Ei was even more frightening, but Ghislaine still had a deeply rooted fear and respect for Gal's strength. He was, after all, Rank 6 of the Seven Great Powers.
Putting Ghislaine's heart and mind at ease, Paul didn't hesitate to answer, "There's no way in hell I'm fighting Gal at my current level. I might be able to pull it off in five to ten years, but even that's up for debate..."
Though he briefly shifted his gaze to Ei, Paul didn't point out that she was his countermeasure against people on Gal's level. Instead, he went on to add, "Besides, I'm not entirely sure Gal is our enemy, at least not in the truest sense. He's the type of person that only truly cares about fighting against strong opponents. Unless he was ordered to by the King of Asura, I can't see him going out of his way to track us down..."
As much as Paul was lauded as a 'prodigy' by the masses, Gal was one of the few people who knew the truth. Paul could imagine the man hunting him down, but, similar to Hisoka from Hunter x Hunter, the battle-crazed swordsman would wait until he had fully matured before seeking him out.
Shaking such thoughts from his mind, Paul straightened his back a little before hypothesizing, "If I had to guess, Gal was ordered to investigate the Shirone Kingdom where he ultimately encountered Beidou. She isn't the type of woman to back down from a fight, so it isn't unreasonable to think that she was the one to provoke him. After that, well, there's no way in hell the Shirone Kingdom wouldn't take advantage of the situation..."
Having suffered several bruisings due to Beidou's bodacious nature, Paul could easily imagine her picking a fight after Gal called her weak. It would also explain why Ningguang had dispatched Ganyu to ascertain the truth. There was no way she would have been ignorant of Gal's movements, so she was probably the most surprised by Beidou's sudden death.
Imagining the vexed expression on Ningguang's face, Paul couldn't help adopting a faint smile as he went on to explain, "Regardless of the truth, it doesn't change the fact that we need to depart Sharia. If we stay here for much longer, it's only a matter of time before the Nobility begins trying to pressure or tie us to them."
As both Count Schmidt and the Principal of the Ranoa Magic Academy had extended him invitations to attend various galas and other forms of social gatherings, Paul knew he was treading on thin ice. The longer he stayed in Sharia, the more vulnerable his position would become. He was already regarded as the 'Big Boss' of the Western District, so it was only a matter of time before someone risked leveraging their well-being against him.
Nobles would never allow a power beyond their control to prosper in their territory. Not without some extreme benefits.
Directing his gaze to Roxy, Paul's expression and tone became serious as he asked, "What do you want to do?"
"Pardon...?"
Though she wasn't as confused as she was letting on, Roxy wanted to hear what Paul had to say before giving her response. In truth, she had already decided to remain in Sharia and apprentice under Lisa, but she could always change her mind if Paul insisted she come with him.
Deciding to be honest, Paul explained, "You're a competent woman, Roxy, but the Nobility is filled with opportunistic fiends and complete bastards. I don't plan to stay for too long, but there is a good chance you would be jeopardized and harassed if you followed me to the Capital. Depending on how things develop, you may even end up being labeled an international criminal."
Suppressing the part of her that wanted to insist she could take care of herself, Roxy exhaled a muted sigh before answering, "I have also come to realize how weak I am compared to the other members of your Party. Even your cook is at least Saint-Ranked in Fire Magic while I'm struggling to reach the Advanced Rank..."
Before Paul could attempt to console her, Roxy shook her head and said, "Don't. Even if you were being sincere, I wouldn't be able to interpret your words as anything more than pretense. I understand that it's my fault for being weak, so just be prepared. If you don't write frequently, I'll...I'll hunt you to the ends of the world once I become stronger..."
Though she did her best to appear resolute, Roxy began to falter near the end of her statement. The eyes of nearly everyone present were focused on her, so she could feel her face and body heating up as a sudden urge to pull her cap over her face swelled from the back of her mind.
Making things significantly worse for the petite blunette, Ganyu couldn't help remarking, "You don't have to worry. He tries to behave casually, but Master is a very possessive man at heart. Even if you didn't come for him, he would eventually come to you."
With everyone around the table offering some form of acknowledgment to Ganyu's statement, Roxy wasn't the only one feeling embarrassed. He did his best to appear relaxed, but everyone could see that Paul's smile was a little forced as an awkward chuckle emanated from his throat...
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&nbsp;

After a lengthy discussion, the moment of truth came as the sun slowly crept over the horizon. If Paul's speculation were correct, there would be no need to rush their departure from Sharia. If he was wrong, the sooner their departure, the better.
With everyone else choosing to wait outside, Paul made his way into the Intersection of Fate to find Katheryne standing in her usual place behind her counter. Beidou was nowhere to be seen, but that wasn't too strange as the Intersection of Fate demanded payment for all of its functions.
Raising his hand in a gesture of greeting, Paul said, "Hey there, long time no see." as he approached Katheryne's counter. He had been pretty the past couple of weeks, so he hadn't been checking the IOF as often as he should.
Adopting a professional smile, Katheryne crossed her hands over her abdomen before bowing as she said, "Ad Astra Abyssosque. It's good to see you, Master Paul. To what do I owe the pleasure of tonight's visit?"
Returning a smile of his own, Paul explained, "I came to resurrect Beidou. Do you know what I need to do?"
Nodding her head, Katheryne gestured towards the summoning circle at the center of the platform, explaining, "Place your hand on the stone dais and express your intention to resurrect a fallen ally. The base cost is 1000 Asura Gold Coins, increasing depending on the number of Constellations and whether or not said person is an Archon."
Though he had fortunately never gained any of Beidou's Constellations, Paul couldn't help hissing when Katheryne reminded him of the base cost. Many would pay ten times that amount to resurrect their loved ones, but, as he had always been aware of his ability to revive his summon, Paul had a slightly more 'objective' view on the matter.
Exhaling a tired sigh, Paul muttered, "Whatever...let's get this over with..." before making his way over to the summoning circle. When he expressed his intention to revive someone, the pattern making up the circle gained a crimson red hue, but Paul didn't mind it as he slotted in a thousand AGC.
"I swear, woman...if it turns out you were the one to pick a fight with Gal, I'm pounding your ass until it becomes leather..."
Following his petty utterance, Paul placed his hands into the oversized grooves before shouting, "Confirm!" as per usual. Katheryne had never specified that he had to say the person's name, and, as far as Paul knew, Beidou was the only person to have died since he gained access to the Intersection of Fate. As a result, he was more than a little surprised when a blood-red 'hole' opened in the ground, followed by a naked, voluptuous woman with dark blue hair and dark skin slowly rising up from some kind of carmine fluid.
Though she had changed drastically since the last time he saw her, Paul immediately recognized the woman's identity, slapping his forehead as he muttered, "You've got to be fucking kidding me..."
As the eerie red light faded away, followed by the woman being lowered to the ground, Paul's suspicions were confirmed when she opened her dichromatic, gold-blue eyes and teased, "Hey now, is that any way to speak to a beautiful woman you haven't seen in years? And here I was looking forward to our reunion..."
Intensifying Paul's feelings of discomfort, the woman gave him a quick once-over before licking her lips in an overtly seductive manner. Then, with a slightly predatory look, she added, "We've both grown quite a bit, haven't we~?"
As much as he disliked the woman's personality, Paul's eyes naturally gravitated towards her naked form. She was shorter than he imagined, somewhere between 155-160cm, but her proportions could even give Ghislaine a run for her money.
Noticing Paul's wayward gaze, the blue-haired beauty promptly struck a pose, body bent slightly and hands placed behind her head as she asked, "How do I look? They get in the way at times, but I'm quite proud of how this body has developed. If I were still a man, I might not be able to hold back."
Exhaling a sigh, Paul shook his head before peeling off his overcoat and handing it over to the woman, Kaeya, as he questioned, "How did you die? I haven't heard anything from Ningguang."
Though she would have preferred Paul to have a more 'honest' reaction, Kaeya accepted the offered coat as she answered, "Truth be told, I have no idea. The last thing I remember was trying to collect information at a less than respectable pub. I'm confident nobody slipped anything into my drink, so I have no idea how I ended up here."
Furrowing his brows, Paul didn't immediately respond to Kaeya's words. She wasn't the type of person that would lower her guard around others, so it didn't make sense for her to be killed off without, at least, knowing how it happened.&nbsp;
Seeing Kaeya struggling to button up his overcoat, Paul's expression lost some of its severity as he flatly remarked, "Seriously? Just how big have your tits become...?"
Adopting a cheeky smile, Kaeaya puffed out her chest and replied, "I'm shorter than I would have liked, but my breasts and butt are both around 86cm. How about it? Want to cop a feel...?"
Though he was more than a little tempted, Paul managed to shake his head and reply, "Nah." in an unconvincing tone of voice. He was slowly overcoming his apprehensions about sleeping with people the IOF had genderbent, but Kaeya was akin to the final boss in that regard. She had a very 'open' and bro-like personality, so Paul couldn't help regarding her as a perverted man piloting a woman's body.
Shrugging her shoulders, Kaeya mused, "Suit yourself." before placing a hand on her hips and taking a look around. She was a little surprised to see Katheryne at her kiosk, but as Paul had made it clear she wasn't the person he intended to revive, she eventually asked, "So? Who else kicked the bucket? Judging by how relaxed you are, it shouldn't be anyone from your usual entourage...I'm guessing Childe?"
Shaking his head, Paul surprised Kaeya by answering, "It was Beidou. She had a run-in with the Sword God."
Making no effort to conceal her surprise, Kaeya uttered a genuine, "Holy shit." before subsequently frowning as she added, "Damn...that makes my death appear even more pathetic..."
Though he didn't disagree, Paul decided not to comment as he bent down and began slotting more gold into the summoning circle. Kaeya offered to lend a hand, but Paul shook his head and told her to ask if Katheryne had some clothes she could wear. She did, but they evidently cost 100AGC as the materials originated from their world.
Since he was already spending 2000AGC, Paul only hesitated for a brief moment before allowing Kaeya to make the purchase. They purportedly functioned similarly to the maid outfits each of the girls came equipped with, so they could change apparently size and even self-repair so long as Elemental Energy was supplied.
With Kaeya changing into a female version of the outfit Paul now vaguely remembered from the game, the two of them stood next to each other as he activated the summoning circle. Another eerie red portal opened in the ground, but the thing Kaeya and Paul took notice of was the fact that Beidou had emerged fully clothed, albeit with a massive tear across her abdomen.
While Paul's expression became grim, Kaeya managed to crack a smile as she commented, "That's ominous..." in a playful tone. Paul was tempted to smack her upside the head but restrained himself as Beidou had opened her eyes and was currently staring at him.
Breaking the tentative silence, Beidou adopted her characteristically dauntless smile as she said, "Damn, I knew I shouldn't have tried to fight with an ordinary weapon. That scar-faced bastard cut cleanly through my sword."
Noticing the state of her wardrobe, Beidou traced her finger along the exposed part of her abdomen, adding, "And evidently the rest of me..."
Feeling that Beidou wasn't taking the situation seriously, Paul revealed, "Most of your fleet has either been wiped out or seized. Ningguang sent Ganyu to have me resurrect you as soon as possible, but it's been nearly fourteen hours since your death."
Maintaining her confident demeanor, Beidou insisted, "Those flat-footed monkies wouldn't be able to seize a single one of my ships if they weren't willfully handed over or abandoned. So long as my crew remains, it's only a matter of time before we rebuild."
Without giving Paul a chance to respond, Beidou shifted her attention to Kaeya, her wine-red eyes squinting ever so slightly as she said, "I didn't expect to see you here. Don't tell me you also got done in...?"
Spreading her arms and shrugging helplessly, Kaeya replied, "What can I say? The people of this world can be pretty crafty when they put their hearts into it."
Snorting through her nose, Beidou was tempted to chastise Kaeya in place of Ningguang. Instead, she returned her gaze to Paul and said, "You've grown a lot since I last saw you. I can tell you're still a little wet behind the ears, but you're starting to mature into the man we need you to be. Ningguang will be relieved."
Furrowing his brows, Paul resisted the urge to ask how he was still wet behind the ears. He knew better than anyone that he still had a long way to go, so he just inhaled a steadying breath and asked, "What led you to crossing paths with the Sword God?"
Though it was only for a brief moment, the veneer of Beidou's confidence cracked as she recalled the moments leading up to her death. The simple truth of the matter was that she didn't know that the man in question was the Sword God. All she knew about the man was that he had blue hair and a scar on his cheek, traits that weren't all that uncommon in their present world.
Exhaling a faint, inaudible sigh, Beidou eventually went on to explain, "He was wandering around the port like he owned the place. I didn't approach him at first, but I couldn't stay silent after I witnessed him cutting off one of my men's hands. After that, well, we wouldn't be here discussing things if everything went smoothly. It turns out the Sword God is a pretty strong guy."
Recalling the moment Gal unsheathed his sword and sliced through her in a literal instant, a layer of goosebumps promptly spread across Beidou's body. She had never feared death but experiencing it was never pleasant.
Since Beidou rarely wore a bra, both Paul's and Kaeya's eyes lowered as two conspicuous protrusions made themselves known beneath the piece of cloth covering her breasts. Beidou followed their gaze, but instead of reacting bashfully, she adopted a challenging smile and said, "Men are so helpless." before pulling down the cloth to free her puppies.
As Paul and Kaeya became slack-jawed, Beidou's smile became markedly more prominent as she asked, "Why are you just staring? Come, show me just how much you have 'grown' since our previous encounter. You're not a little boy anymore. Be more daring."
Inhaling a deep breath through his nose, it took more restraint than Paul knew he had not to push Beidou down and take her in the middle of the summoning circle. Unfortunately, at least ten other women were waiting for him back in his room, so he couldn't afford to dally for too long.
As a sort of compromise, Paul walked forward to pinch Beidou's already perky nipples, his expression a mask of calm as he said, "That'll have to wait till later. I don't mind carrying you, but I imagine you'd like to be able to walk out of here."
Understanding the meaning behind Paul's words, Beidou's smile stretched to its limits before she suddenly burst into laughter. The last time she had seen Paul, he was still actively avoiding her since she wasn't afraid to take the 'initiative' in their relationship. Seeing him try to act brazenly was both refreshing and amusing.
Ceasing her laughter just as Paul was about to ask why she was laughing, Beidou abruptly pulled his face into her bosom with a bit of force, willfully smothering him as she said, "I'm looking forward to it..."
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Exhaling the breath he had been holding, Paul's expression morphed into an ostensibly cold glower as he observed the woman a few meters away from him. The moment their eyes met, her figure appeared to blur for the briefest of moments, prompting Paul to draw his broadsword across the front of his body, the flat of the blade facing outward.
As if drawn to Paul's blade like a powerful magnet, the rapier-like blade of his opponent bent noticeably as the tip connected with the flat of Paul's blade. Instead of breaking or bending further, however, a pale white light briefly flashed along the length of the blade, instantly straightening it and causing Paul's feet to crack the earth beneath him as he firmly stood his ground.
Hurting Paul's pride a bit, his opponent smiled and said, "Not bad." as she brandished her blade in a flurry of elegant arcs that left visible, pale-white trails of light. None of her attacks managed to breach Paul's defense, but her tempo and spacing prevented him from countering.
Though the Water God Style was considered the counter to the Sword God Style, that logic only applied if both practitioners were purists with the temperament expected of their respective schools. If a user of the Sword God Style had a foundation in the Water God Style, they would be able to circumvent the latter's counters by simply remaining patient and never overcommitting to an attack.&nbsp;
Having spent five years practicing the Water God Style and learning 'true' swordsmanship from Ei, Barbara was a nightmare for practitioners of both the Sword and Water God Styles. Her attacks lacked power, but there was a reason neither school focused on strength. So long as you were fast and accurate with your strikes, your sword would take care of the rest.
As he grew increasingly frustrated the longer the fight lasted, gaps began to appear in Paul's defense. His sword was a lot heavier than the rapier-like blade in Barbara's hand, so, even if he wasn't moving around all that much, it placed a much greater strain on his muscles.
Correctly assuming that most of the gaps in Paul's defense were created to draw her in, Barbara maintained a faint smile as she kept her distance and practically danced around him like a wasp tormenting a beetle. She didn't actually enjoy deconstructing Paul's fighting style, but she knew he would feel even worse if she went 'easy' on him.
Clicking his tongue, Paul was prepared to go on the offensive, but Barbara immediately created some space between them, her right hand extending to unleash a lance-like torrent of water. He managed to cut through the attack and disperse much of it with a shockwave generated by Touki, but he still ended up being soaked by the frigid waters.
Exhaling another sigh, Paul shook his head and planted his sword into the ground, stating, "Let's call it here. If I get any more riled up, I may end up doing something stupid..."
Nodding her head in affirmation, Barbara sheathed her sword and said, "I understand." before making her way over to Paul and asking, "Now, what should I ask for~?" in a playful tone. As per Paul's suggestion, the winner of their spars could make virtually any request of the loser. Had he known he would lose every single one of their spars, he might have come up with something different.
Smiling wryly in response to Barbara's words, Paul attempted to wrap his arms around her but was prevented as she said, "You're wet." in a matter-of-factly tone. Then, before Paul could say anything in his defense, she adopted a squinty-eyed smile and suggested, "We should get you out of these clothes..."
Adopting a markedly more wolfish grin, Paul ignored Barbara's previous protest, shamelessly wrapping his arms around to squeeze her butt as he remarked, "So that's why you kept peppering me with Water Magic. Trying to get me out of my pants and into yours...?"
Giggling in response to Paul's words, Barbara tiptoed to plant a kiss on his lips before revealing, "I asked Esme to draw a bath..."
Though it was primarily theatrical, Paul winced in response to Barbara's words. He knew his chances of defeating her in a spar were slim, but it still kind of stung to hear her suggest she knew the outcome before they even fought.
Caressing Paul's face, Barbara said, "Don't worry. You're plenty strong. I just have more motivation to win..."
Punctuating her words, Barbara planted another kiss on Paul's lips. This time, however, she didn't immediately separate. Instead, she linked her arms around his neck and took the initiative to breach his lips with her tongue.
Though he couldn't help feeling that the dynamic in their relationship was reversing, Paul dutifully reciprocated Barbara's affections. He knew he was living a pretty blessed life surrounded by so many beautiful women, so he did his best not to complain just because things weren't going his way.&nbsp;
Just as Paul was thinking he needed to try harder, Ghislaine, who had been observing their spar a few meters away, immediately perked up, shouting, "Something's coming...!" as she unsheathed her fang-like sword.
Directly following Ghislaine's outburst, Paul also detected that something was fast approaching them. So fast, in fact, that by the time he released Barbara and prepared to grab his sword, it had already reached his side.
As Ghislaine prepared to leap to Paul's aid, the latter raised his hand and shouted, "Stop!" in a commanding tone. Because of this, Ghislaine nearly ended up face-planting into the snow as her feet stopped before her brain had fully processed what he said.
Though he was tempted to tease Ghislaine for her clumsiness, Paul was more focused on the fluffy, bluish-white creature that had appeared at his side. It was an inordinately beautiful creature with mesmeric, purple-pink eyes, a coat that resembled painted clouds, and, most notably, a pair of dark-purple horns that hummed with incredible power.
Recognizing the creature's identity almost immediately, Paul placed his forehead against its snout, affectionately caressing the underside of its head as he whispered, "Ganyu...it's good to see you..."
Taking advantage of the fact she was in her Qilin form, Ganyu responded to Paul's words with an affectionate lick before nuzzling against him with enough force to send his feet skidding backward. He did his best to stay upright but eventually fell over, a dilemma that was promptly followed by Ganyu plopping down and rolling onto her back as she shrunk down to a size capable of fitting in his lap.
Not expecting such an emotional response, Paul couldn't help feeling a twinge of guilt as he caressed Ganyu's indescribably soft underbelly and whispered, "I missed you too..."
Curious about the creature's identity, Ghislaine cautiously approached the slightly annoyed-looking Barbara and questioned, "Is that Paul's pet? I've never seen or heard of a monster that could alter its size..."
Suppressing a sigh, Barbara shook her head and revealed, "That's Ganyu, one of our allies and another of Paul's lovers. She's able to transform and alter her size at will."
Though she was more than a little surprised at first, Ghislaine felt relieved when Barbara clarified that Ganyu could transform. If Paul was the kind of man that would even sleep with animals, she might have to reconsider her decision to follow him.
There was such a thing as being too 'open-minded' when it came to love...
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After making their way back to the city, Paul received permission from Barbara to let Ganyu join them in the bath. He ordinarily wouldn't ask for such a thing, but it was a bath she had prepared specifically for the two of them. If he coopted it without her approval, he would have felt even more like an ass.
Though she was a bit reluctant at first, Ganyu eventually transformed into her human form once they had reached the changing room. As ridiculous as the notion was, she was a little afraid that Paul would be put off by her more mature appearance, as, back in Liyue, many people had avoided her.
To Ganyu's considerable relief, Paul's reaction to her mature form could best be described as captivated befuddlement rather than disgust. There was also a fair amount of lust exuding from his aura, so Ganyu could feel the underside of her horns burning as she placed her hand over her heart and asked, "How do I look...?"
Since Barbara was also present, Paul did his best to control himself as he smiled and whispered, "As beautiful as always..."
Seeing through Paul's thoughts, Ganyu shifted her attention to Barbara, an apologetic expression marring her face as she said, "I feel I owe you an apology, Lady Barbara. I have clearly intruded upon you and Master Paul. For that, I sincerely apologize."
Discarding her mild annoyance, Barbara dismissively waved her hand, insisting, "You've done nothing warranting an apology. Rather, you must be exhausted after trekking all the way here from the Strife Zone. Letting you join us in the bath is the least I could do."
Though she could tell that Barbara wasn't being completely honest with herself, Ganyu returned a smile and said, "You're a very kind person." in a sincere tone. Not all humans could set aside their wants and needs out of respect and concern for others.
Feeling a little sheepish, Barbara briefly considered excusing herself so that Paul and Ganyu could have some alone time together. Instead, she took the initiative to begin undressing, saying, "I'm actually a very selfish person..." under her breath.&nbsp;
Hearing Barbara's utterance, a more prominent smile developed across Ganyu's face. Barbara's behavior reminded her a lot of Paul, as no matter how often he helped others, he would perpetually insist he wasn't a good person.&nbsp;
Returning her gaze to Paul, Ganyu's eyes briefly lost focus as she silently observed him removing his damp clothing. She hadn't noticed it before, as she was primarily focused on the radiance of his aura, but he had matured considerably since their last encounter...
Noticing Ganyu staring at him with a dreamy expression on her face, Paul could feel a strangely fluttery sensation spreading through his body as he forced a cocky smile and asked, "Like what you see...?"
Without losing her unfocused look, Ganyu nodded her head and muttered, "Yes..." in a delicate yet naturally penetrating tone. Her voice could barely be called a whisper, but Paul felt as though they had been carved directly upon his heart.
"..."
Noticing the changes in Paul's aura, Ganyu promptly regained her senses, a light glaze spreading across the surface of her eyes as she stared up at him and said, "It's okay..." in a permissive tone.
("This woman...")
Swallowing the knot that had formed in his throat, Paul shook his head and half-heartedly replied, "Maybe later..." before quickly stripping out of his pants. He noticed Ganyu's gaze immediately descending to his lower body but pretended not to as he grabbed a towel and hurriedly slipped past both her and Barbara.
Seeing Paul practically run away, Barbara briefly fell into a daze before shifting her attention to the culprit responsible. She was tempted to ask Ganyu for advice but found herself awestruck as she observed the blue-haired Adeptus staring longingly in the direction Paul had departed. The backdrop of the changing room wasn't even remotely scenic, but Ganyu's presence made the scene resemble a masterful painting...
"..."
Sensing the changes in Barbara's aura, Ganyu blinked back to her senses before turning to the stone-faced blonde and saying, "You shouldn't be so concerned with how you compare to others. Master cares deeply for you. Is that not enough?"
Surprised by Ganyu's words, Barbara opened her mouth but found herself momentarily unable to speak. Her first instinct was to apologize, but she quickly suppressed it and answered, "It is." in the most sincere tone she could manage. Ganyu could tell she wasn't being entirely truthful, but that didn't stop her from adopting a smile and saying, "I see why Master chose you. The two of you are very alike..."
And like that, Ganyu suddenly became one of Barbara's favorite people...
...
..
.
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Chapter 93: MI93: Gathering