Mushoku Impact

After waiting a minute or two to give Amber a chance to cool her head, Paul entered into the changing room to find it jam-packed with beautiful women in various states of undress. A few were outright naked or had towels wrapped around their bodies, clearly waiting for him so they could enter into the bath.
Voicing his first impression aloud, Paul asked, "Is this Heaven...?" with a stupefied expression on his face. With very few exceptions, every girl he had summoned through the Intersection of Fate was present in the room. The only people missing were those currently away on assignments and those who preferred peace, quiet, and privacy.
As his eyes scanned every single person in the room, Paul briefly paused when he came across a woman with long, light-purple hair, magenta eyes, and an incredible figure. He recognized who she was immediately but still found himself asking, "Qiqi...?" in a disbelieving tone.
Having been watching Paul since his entrance into the changing room, Qiqi responded with a curt, "Nn." before folding her hands over her lap, bowing, and saying, "Welcome home, Master."&nbsp;
While Amber's words implied that most of the people summoned through the IOF would stop developing once they reached their 'original' forms, it was clear to Paul that girls like Qiqi and Diona were exceptions. It wasn't that obvious in Diona's case due to her small stature, but Qiqi had grown from a meager 140cm to an above-average 168cm. More notably, she had 'filled out' in all the right places.
Recovering from his momentary stupor, a wry smile developed across Paul's face as he ran his fingers through his hair and remarked, "You sure grew up, didn't you? Congrats, I know it was something you were worried about."
Raising her head, Qiqi returned a faint smile as she suddenly grabbed her breasts and said, "It's all thanks to Master. If I were still back in Liyue, I would have remained unchanged for hundreds of more years. Now, I can remember all kinds of things, and I'm surrounded by people who view me as a companion rather than a liability."
Resisting the urge to ask what Qiqi's words had to do with her bouncing and squeezing her large, pillowy breasts, Paul replied, "I'm happy for you. As far as I'm concerned, we're all-"
Walking up behind Paul, Beidou gave him a firm slap on the back, saying, "Yeah, yeah, we're all one big, happy family. Now hurry and take off your clothes. We've all got places to be."
Furrowing his brows, Paul was tempted to say something but ultimately just shook his head and began to disrobe. It was a little awkward having eighteen women watching him, but he still managed a brazen smile when his hands reached the clasp of his belt.
Instead of pulling his legs free and tossing his trousers to the side, Paul allowed his pants to fall to his ankles. The presence of Qiqi made him a little uncomfortable, even though she was well over a hundred years old, but that didn't prevent Paul from letting his not-so-little brother make his presence known.
With the eyes of every girl present immediately shifting to his erection, a fair amount of heat spread through Paul's face as his brain felt like it was buzzing in his head. He was actually quite proud of his figure and the size of his member, but that didn't make him impervious to feeling judged.
Fortunately for Paul, his wasn't a case of simply believing he looked good. His effort over the past eight years was apparent to everyone in the room, eliciting wide-eyed stares and a few nervous gulps from the girls present.
Giving voice to the thoughts of those who hadn't accompanied him to the North, a dainty-looking woman with long, pale-blue hair and icy-blue eyes remarked, "Very impressive..." in a hushed tone.
Recognizing the blue-haired beauty as Ayaka, Paul's smiled wide enough to display his teeth as he brazenly asserted, "It appears even bigger from up close."
"Oh my..."
Understanding the meaning behind Paul's words, Ayaka only hesitated for a moment before rising to her feet. Before then, she had been sitting in a seize-like position off to the side, a pure white towel wrapped around her body. Believing Paul was asking her to service him, she allowed the towel to drop to the floor, revealing a lithe, athletic, and ostensibly flawless form reminiscent of a dancer rather than a warrior.
Blinking in surprise, Paul had to suppress the urge to ask what the blue-haired 'ojou-sama' was thinking. Instead, he oriented himself toward her, faint anxiety swelling within his chest as she reacted by kneeling in front of him and admitted, "You weren't exaggerating. It does appear quite a bit bigger from up close...."
Just as Ayaka extended her thin, pianist-like fingers to tentatively caress Paul's member, Beidou interrupted the steamy moment, asking, "Didn't we come here to take a bath? How did this turn into an exhibition...?"
Though he didn't disagree with Beidou's statement, knowing full well that Diona was patiently waiting back at his room, Paul still turned to her with a deadpan expression on his face, retorting, "Seriously, Beidou? You need to learn to read the mood..."
Snorting through her nose, Beidou crossed her arms under her breasts and asserted, "Oh, I know how to read the mood. I just know better than to let things get out of control when there's work to be done, and people still have places to be. I mean, there's like twenty of us here. Even if you did have the stamina to compete with us all, it would take literal hours to cycle through everyone. And what would the people waiting their turn do in the meantime? Sit on our hands and form a queue...?"
"..."
While Paul was staring back at Beidou in silence, many of the other girls present had conflicted or disproving looks on their faces. A few were of a similar mentality as Beidou, but they disapproved of how she went about expressing it.
Noticing the looks she was receiving, Beidou's usually dauntless smile became visibly cramped as she affirmed, "What? I was just saying what needed to be said..."
Before someone like Barbara could give Beidou a piece of her mind, Paul brought everyone's attention back to him as he said, "Beidou's right. I did get caught up in the moment. That's my bad."
Extending a hand to Ayaka, Paul helped the somewhat disappointed-looking beauty to her feet, whispering, "I'm looking forward to the next time." before giving her butt a playful squeeze. She immediately stood to her full height, but instead of appearing embarrassed, she adopted a faint smile and said, "Me too." with upturned eyes.
After nodding his head in approval, Paul raised his gaze to everyone else present and asked, "What's everyone standing around here for? Let's get in the bath!"
Since he was already naked, Paul took the initiative to head towards the bath. In the process, he picked up a very startled Ayaka, carrying her in a bridal carry as he yelled, "Last one in has to behave like a puppy the rest of the bath...!"
Prompted by Paul's words and actions, the few girls that had yet to get undressed began doing so very quickly. The only exception was Ghislaine, as she didn't particularly mind being treated like a dog. Paul had made her 'beg' and 'shake hands' a few times when she was in her heated state, so she didn't mind taking the fall if it meant being able to act spoiled...
...
..
.
After a lengthy and entertaining bath, Paul, wearing little more than a pair of trousers, followed behind a fairly adorable cat girl with blonde hair and a long, curved tail. She was around the same size as Diona, but, much like other members of the Beast Race, she had sizeable breasts that pulled at the fabric of her traditional Maid outfit.
Upon reaching their destination, the petite cat girl turned to Paul, bowing respectfully as she said, "Here you are, Master Paul. This is the bedroom that Lady Ningguang had specially prepared for you. If there is anything else you need, please do not hesitate to inform me or another member of the Service Corps. It would be our life's greatest honor to be of service to the man who both saved and gave us a new lease on life..."
Though he could see the sincerity in the diminutive Maid's sapphire blue eyes, Paul already had his hands full with those summoned through the IOF. That number would be increasing as early as tomorrow, so he shook his head and said, "While I appreciate the sentiment, none of you should feel indebted to me. You girls shouldn't have been forced into such a dire situation in the first place. Mine and Ninggaung's decision to help you out was just our way of trying to correct one of society's many injustices..."
Interrupting whatever the girl was about to say, Paul surprised her with a pat on the head, smiling as he added, "Instead of thinking about how you can make me happy, you should start thinking about the path you want to walk in the future. Each of you deserves to be happy. Don't think you are obligated to continue serving us for the rest of your life..."
Finished with what he had to say, Paul retracted his hand from the petite cat girl's head before retreating into his bedroom. He could feel her gaze boring a hole into the back of his skull, but he pretended not to notice as he closed the door behind him and exhaled a sigh.
"Y-Y-You sure took your time...!"
"Hmm...?"
Raising his head, Paul found Diona wrapped in blankets atop a bed that could easily comfortably accommodate seven people. As a result, Diona appeared even smaller than usual as Paul adopted a smile and asserted, "Sorry, I got a little nervous as I was making my way over. It's not every day I get to claim the virginity of such a cute girl..."
Though she would have preferred to be called beautiful or sexy, Diona's ears twitched in response to Paul's compliment. Then, feeling a little emboldened, she released the hold she had on the blankets cocooning her body, revealing an outfit that left Paul at a genuine loss for words.
Expecting Diona to wear something more 'adult' to try and entice him, Paul was surprised to see her wearing her usual crop top. The only thing she had removed was her shorts, revealing a rather childish pair of black panties with a design resembling a cartoon cat. There was even a bit of additional fabric to form cat ears, framing the pale-blue crest carved into her lower abdomen...
"..."
Feeling a little unnerved by Paul's reaction, Diona pressed the tips of her fingers together as she said, "I...I know I lack the feminine charm of girls like Ningguang and Ganyu. I did my best to drink lots of milk and eat until my tummy was swollen, but I still ended up looking like this. Since I can't be sexy, I decided I might as well be cute, so...what do you think?"
Fearing that Paul would refuse her, Diona's body began to tremble as she appeared to shrink into herself. As a result, her brain failed to immediately process Paul's words as he shrugged his shoulders and said, "I've always liked the cute Diona. If everyone looked the same and had the same body type, I would probably get bored after a while. Now, how about giving me a spin? I'm curious to see if there's a pattern on your butt as well."
"Uh...okay?"
Rising to her feet, Diona managed to remain steady despite her confusion and the uneven surface of the mattress. Her balance and flexibility were among the best in Paul's increasingly large entourage, so she was even able to bend over and stick out her butt without falling as she asked, "L-Like this...?" in an uncertain tone.
Seeing the cat-like paw print on Diona's bottom, Paul had to suppress a soft chuckle as he nodded his head and teased, "Nice. It's a bit small, but your butt has an excellent shape. I can't wait to bury my face into it."
"Wha-!? You-You ca-"
Before Diona tried to tell him what he could or couldn't do, Paul yanked off his belt in a single motion, tearing a few of his pant loops as he firmly declared, "I can. You were worried about me viewing you as a child, right? Well, let me show you just how wrong you are."
Feeling weak in the knees, Diona promptly plopped to the surface of the bed. After revealing her custom-made panties, she had planned to prove to Paul that her appearance didn't matter, that she was still an adult. She never imagined that he would take the initiative, much less eye her like a hungry beast about to devour its prey. It was a little scary, but her heart was racing faster than the instances Paul had washed her body...
...
..
.

With Diona using his lap as a pillow, Paul relaxed against the headboard of his bed with a peaceful smile on his face. There was a bit of drool leaking from the lovable cat girl's mouth, but he didn't really mind it as he silently observed her sleeping face.
Though he was a little unsatisfied after only cumming a single time, Paul had enjoyed his time with Diona. Her reactions were cute and incredibly honest, so he ended up making her climax more than ten times with just his mouth and fingers. By the time they moved on to having sex, she was utterly exhausted, so Paul just supported her from behind and distracted her with a kiss as he slowly moved her hips in a figure-eight.
Recalling the sonorous sigh of relief that escaped Diona's throat when he came inside of her, Paul was invariably reminded of the situation with Kay. If his suspicions regarding the Elemental Crest were accurate, there were going to be a lot of people counting on him to provide them with his 'void essence'...
Taking advantage of his ability to see in the dark, Paul squinted his eyes to see the face of an ornate cuckoo clock. When he noticed the time was only 7:13 PM, a wry smile developed across his face as he was still wide awake and full of energy.
Looking down at Diona, Paul tentatively poked her cheek a few times to see if she would wake up. Instead, an annoyed expression appeared on her face as she promptly rolled away from him and curled up into a ball.
"..."
After taking a moment to cover the naked cat girl with several layers of warm blankets, Paul carefully slid out of bed before dropping into a low, squatting position with both his arms held out. As tempted as he was to go and find someone else to fuck, he would feel guilty if Diona awoke to find him missing or with another girl. Thus, rather than submitting to his more primal urges, Paul began exercising to deplete his excess stamina.
Unsurprisingly, despite Paul's attempts to stay quiet, it didn't take long for Diona to wake up. Her hearing had always been extraordinarily sensitive, so her ears would twitch every time Paul exhaled a labored breath.
Raising her head to get a peek at what Paul was doing, a pang of guilt and a fluttery feeling filled Diona's chest. She had never been particularly fond of muscular men, but seeing Paul's well-defined back muscles caused her heart to skip a beat.
Realizing why Paul was exercising, Diona sat up and said, "It's okay, you know? You don't have to force yourself on my behalf. Rather, I would feel worse knowing you held back on my account..."
Without rising from his squatting position, Paul shook his head and said, "I already informed the others it would be just the two of us. Though I doubt they would mind, I would feel guilty banging on their doors this late in the evening..."
While 7:28 wasn't particularly late, most people in the world of Mushoku Tensei went to sleep around sunset and woke up just before sunrise. The people in Paul's group were an exception to this rule, but Paul didn't want to intrude if someone was having a heart-to-heart conversation or trying to relax.
"Mmm..."
Understanding what Paul was trying to say, Diona didn't insist that he go and disturb the others. Instead, she crossed her arms and deliberated for several minutes before surprising Paul by suggesting, "Why not summon someone from the Intersection of Fate?"
Furrowing his brows, Paul rose to his full height as he gazed back at Diona and said, "I'm not that much of a reprobate..."
Adopting a slightly annoyed expression of her own, Diona asked, "What's that supposed to mean? The people from the IOF all agreed to serve you the moment they signed the contract. I don't think summoning and asking them to have sex makes you a pervert."
Before Paul could make a counterargument, Diona promptly freed herself from the blankets and started fixing her hair as she added, "It was really, really hard, you know? Being away from you for so long made my stomach feel empty no matter how much food I ate. But that isn't the worst part..."
Staring into Paul's eyes with a pitiful look on her face, Diona admitted, "I don't really know how to describe it...but I wanted to be with you from the moment you first summoned me. I couldn't help thinking about ways to get you to praise me, pet my head, and rub my belly. On the worst days, I would even bite my tail and try to comfort myself with my fingers..."
Leaving no room for misunderstandings, Diona curled her tail between her legs and bit near the end of it. At the same time, poorly concealed behind her tail, she sank two fingers into her nearly hairless crotch and began to move them in and out with an almost pained look on her face.
After several seconds of the extremely libidinous display, Diona retracted her fingers to reveal a glistening thread as she revealed, "No matter what I tried, the feeling that something was 'missing' never went away. That's how I know...even if some are against it, most of the people you summon through the Intersection of Fate will feel the same way. We 'need' you to feel complete..."
Though Zhongli had asked them not to reveal too much, Diona cared more about Paul than following the decree of someone she didn't even like. She probably wouldn't have mentioned this earlier in the day, but now that she felt 'complete' for the first time in years, Diona didn't want to keep secrets from the person she loved. She wanted him to know everything about her, even if it meant exposing herself as a pervert...
With Diona's uncannily convenient words all but confirming his suspicions, Paul's expression became severe. Ever since the incident with Kay, he had been secretly hoping that someone would open up and reveal the truth to him. Now, seemingly out of nowhere, Diona was revealing exactly what he wanted to know.
Seeing Diona staring at him with a concerned look on her face, Paul fixed his expression and softly replied, "I see. Thanks for sharing this, Diona...I always knew I could count on you..."
Regaining her smile, Diona cupped her cheeks as a tingly sensation filled her body. Paul's praise had always made her happy, but hearing him say he could always count on her caused her to feel inordinately fluffy inside. It was like a swarm of butterflies had risen from her stomach and erupted from her chest.
Increasing Diona's feelings of glee and contentment, Paul approached to hold and kiss her. She was still naked, so his hands naturally cupped and massaged her butt as the two made out for the better part of six minutes. When they finally separated, Diona had an enamored look in her eyes as she purred, "My tummy is starting to feel empty again..." in a heated tone.
Returning a smoldering smile, Paul, once again, brought his face closer to Diona's as he replied, "Let's fix that..." as he spread her legs and lifted her slender frame with very little effort...
...
..
.
After another brief yet passionate romping with Diona, Paul placed the tuckered-out cat girl into bed before planting a kiss on her forehead and proceeding to enter the Intersection of Fate. He hadn't decided whether or not he was going to summon anyone, but that didn't prevent him from speaking to the stoic beauty perpetually awaiting his next visit.
Folding her hands over her abdomen, Katheryne offered a polite bow as she offered her usual, "Ad Astra Abyssosque. Welcome back, Master Paul."
Returning a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, Paul raised his hand as a counter-greeting before revealing, "There is something I wanted to ask you. What can you tell me about the contract administered by the God of the Boundaries?"
Adopting her characteristically professional smile, Katheryne replied, "Not much, I'm afraid. One of the principal clauses within the contract prevents signators from discussing it with others. I can try to answer any concerns you may have, but the specific details are strictly confidential."
"..."
Though he wasn't surprised by Katheryne's response, Paul couldn't help feeling frustrated. However, instead of lashing out, he took a deep breath before staring at her with a deadpan and asking, "Is this real...?"
Tilting her head ever-so-slightly to the side, Katheryne replied, "Is what real...?" in a genuinely confused tone.
Gesturing around him, Paul answered, "This, all of this. I want to know if this is actually happening or if my mind is trapped in some kind of virtual simulation."
Adopting a rare, confused expression, Katheryne shrank away from Paul as she replied, "I'm not sure how to answer that question as I am unable to perceive realities outside of my own..."
Furrowing his brows, Paul was about to challenge Katheryne's response when she interrupted him, asking, "Can I ask you a question...?"
"..."
Forcing himself to calm down, Paul exhaled a lengthy and profound sigh before nodding his head and answering, "Go for it..."
Leaving Paul feeling a little speechless, Katheryne asked, "Does it really matter...?"
Seeing Paul's confusion, Katheryne went on to explain, "If this is the only reality we're capable of perceiving, does it matter if it's a simulation? I feel real, and all of our interactions appear genuine. I'll admit that our situation is abnormal, but it is a chance provided by beings capable of creating and destroying what we perceive as reality. From that perspective, I believe it would be stranger if we understood everything that was occurring behind the scenes..."
"..."
Unable to refute Katheryne's calm reasoning, Paul entered into a long and contemplative silence. The more he thought about it, the more deeply her words resonated with him. Setting aside the fact he had the fates of two worlds hanging over his head like the Sword of Damocles, he had lived a very blessed existence. More importantly, his interactions and exchanges with the girls sure as hell 'felt' real...
Shaking away his previous negativity, Paul regained his usual smile as he looked up at Katheryne and said, "Sorry about that. I have a bad habit of getting carried away when I think I've uncovered something..."
Returning a smile of her own, Katheryne replied, "There is no need for you to apologize. It's perfectly reasonable for someone in your situation to have doubts. If there is anything I can do to help, please, do not hesitate to ask."
Though he was briefly tempted to tell Katheryne to turn around and point her ass toward him, Paul resisted the urge and asked, "What other kinds of clothes do you sell?"
Taken aback by the sudden and drastic change in topic, Katheryne didn't immediately respond to Paul's question. When she finally recovered, she reached for a thick catalog under her counter, answering, "At the present moment, there are 319 different outfits available for purchase. As you are already aware, that includes the personalized outfits everyone wore prior to their induction into the Intersection of Fate."
Opening the grimoire-like catalog to a random page, Paul's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets as the left page displayed a photorealistic picture of Ganyu wearing a white crop top and form-fitting gym shorts, the kind typically only seen in anime. As for the right page, it showed a red-haired woman that Paul didn't recognize. What really stood out was the size of her bust and, more importantly, the sexualized cat costume she was wearing with a very pissed-off expression on her face...
Out of curiosity, Paul turned the catalog to Katheryne and asked, "Who is this girl? The only redhead I'm aware of is..."
Realizing who the woman was even before Katheryne's response, Paul felt genuinely sorry for her. Why? Because she, formerly he, was none other than the Young Master of the Dawn Winery, Diluc Ragnvindr...
...
..
.

While Ningguang stared off into space with a listless look on her face, too tired to even activate the crest on her abdomen, Paul silently marveled at her naked form, covered from thigh to face in his fluids.
Having gone to prepare towels and warm water around the time Paul was going down on Ningguang in a compromising position known as the butter churner, Ganyu was ready and waiting when the 'spirited' session of love-making came to an end. While Paul seemed to be admiring his handiwork, she approached him with a warm towel and began to wipe him down with a faint, dreamy-eyed smile.
After saying nothing for the better part of a minute, Paul, still staring at Ningguang, questioned, "Do you think less of me now that I have shown my 'true' colors...?"
Maintaining her smile, Gany dabbed at Paul's chest with the towel as she unhesitantly replied, "I could never think less of you. Despite the burden that has been forced upon you, you've done your best to stay strong and support our cause. So long as you never lose sight of the person you wish to become, I think it's okay for you to be a little selfish..."
Moving the towel further down Paul's chest, Ganyu's hazy, purple-pink eyes began to shimmer as she sensed the changes in his aura. When she looked up at him, she found Paul staring at her with a possessive look on his face that caused her heart to begin racing.&nbsp;
Exhibiting nothing but pure devotion in her gaze, Ganyu drew her face and body closer to Paul's as she asserted, "If you're worried about hurting the others...you can always unleash your desires on me. The bodies of Adepti are much stronger than humans...I promise not to break..."
With Ganyu's face only a few centimeters away from his own, Paul was unable to resist planting a kiss on her pale, almost imperceptibly purple lips. After what he had done to Ningguang, forcing her to climax over and over until she was slipping in and out of consciousness, he couldn't help feeling a little ashamed of himself. He didn't regret it, but he was afraid that Ganyu would judge him or that the others might come to fear him if he stopped holding back. Hearing Ganyu's supportive words, it was like a great weight had been removed from both his heart and shoulders...
...
..
.
With Ganyu showing the way, Paul found himself at the entrance to what would ordinarily be the woman's bath. The few men that worked as a part of Ningguang's staff weren't allowed to come anywhere near the parts of the complex that had been set aside for women's bathing and relaxation, but Paul was, unsurprisingly, an exception to that rule.
Stopping outside the entrance to the changing room, Ganyu maintained her usual smile as she asked, "With your permission, I would like to return to Lady Ningguang's chamber. Her pride will not allow her to make use of the bath in her present condition, so I would like to help her get cleaned up before joining her in the bath later this evening."
Since he had expected Ganyu to return to Ningguang's side the moment they reached the Strife Zone, Paul just nodded his head and said, "Sure. I guess I'll see you tomorrow morning?"
Adopting a marginally more prominent smile, Gany replied, "Of course. If you'd like, I can even come by to wake you. Miss Diona will probably be out of commission first thing in the morning, so I can look after her while you eat breakfast and speak with Lady Ningguang."
With Ganyu's reminder, the image of a brave but naive cat girl appeared in Paul's mind. He had no intention of treating her like Ningguang, but it was reasonable to assume she would be in a sorry state come morning. It was still pretty early in the afternoon, and he had promised to stay with her all night. Against his monstrous stamina and considerable experience, Diona was at a rather extreme disadvantage trying to take him on herself.
Nodding his head in approval, Paul answered, "That's probably a good idea. I intend to go easy on her, but I get the feeling she will egg me on even after she's reached her limit."
Covering her mouth, Ganyu issued a soft chuckle before lowering her hand to reveal a radiant smile as she said, "That certainly sounds like Diona."
Not wanting to keep Paul for too long, Ganyu followed her words by folding her hands over her lap and bowing respectfully. Paul had forked over 1300AGC to purchase everyone their original outfits from the game, so this placed a heavy emphasis on her perfectly sculpted breasts, thinly veiled behind a piece of formfitting black cloth.&nbsp;
Though he would beat the shit out of others for doing the same, Paul made no attempts to conceal his gaze as he followed Ganyu's departure. It was only once she had disappeared around a corner that he shifted his gaze to the group of girls that had been 'sneakily' observing him from the shadows of the entry corridor, musing, "Enjoying the view...?" in a cheeky tone.
Stepping out from behind the wall preventing people from peeking into the changing room, it was a dark-skinned beauty with streaks of fiery red and orange in her long hair who replied, "See? I told you he would be able to sense us. We shoulda just waited with everyone else."
Before her other two cohorts could respond, the lithe and athletic-looking woman adopted a toothy smile as she raised her hand and said, "Yo! Long time no see, Paul. You're lookin' good."
Returning a broad smile of his own, Paul countered, "Speak for yourself. You look amazing, Xinyan. Have you started wearing your hair down...?"
Laughing to conceal how bashful she felt as a result of Paul's compliment, Xinyan reached up to grab a few strands of her hair as she replied, "Nah, I just took out my hair ornaments to bathe. Speaking of which, how long do you intend to keep dawdling out here? Some of us have been waiting for a &nbsp;full hour."
Realizing what she had just said, the blush creeping into Xinyan's cheeks became far more prominent. Luckily, she wasn't the only one present, so she attempted to play it off by saying, "Anyways, you three have fun. I'll be inside with the others."
Without waiting for a response, Xinyan promptly retreated into the relative safety of the changing room. As for her compatriots, a buxom, strawberry blonde with a wild ponytail and a very free-spirited looking girl with long brown hair and a large bow resembling bunny ears, they adopted knowing smiles as they lingered behind.
Recognizing the two women as Yoimiya and Amber, the teasing smile on Paul's face softened into an affectionate look as he said, "The two of you also look incredible. Sorry for not saying so sooner..."
While Yoimiya just smiled and held up a peace sign, Amber adopted her characteristically toothy grin and replied, "Thanks for the compliment! I was honestly hoping to grow a little more around the chest area, but I'm happy enough just having my original form."
Blinking in surprise, Paul asked, "Original form? This is what you looked like back in your previous world...?"
Since the world of Mushoku Tensei appeared to be covered in some kind of cel-shaded filter that made it resemble an anime, there were several disparities between the girls' current and video game appearances. Paul had always thought they were like him, experiencing a world significantly different from their own, but it appeared their version of Teyvat had the same graphical fidelity as the world of Mushoku Tensei. In hindsight, that actually made a lot of sense. After all, their actions were supposed to be creating a bridge between the two worlds; It would be strange if they had drastically different appearances.
Confused by Paul's words, Amber reacted with a puzzled, "Huh?" before asking, "Did I look different where you were from?"
Instead of answering Amber's question outright, Paul just shook his head before looking to Yoimiya and asking, "What about you? Is this the same appearance you had in your previous world?"
Though she was just as confused as Amber, Yoimiya maintained a friendly smile as she cheekily replied, "Why? Disappointed~?"
Realizing he might be overreacting, Paul shook his head a second time before staring into the girls' fiery eyes and answering, "No way in hell. If I even pretended to be disappointed in your girls' beauty, a horde of ghosts from my previous world would find a way to break through the boundaries and possess me."
Adopting a broader smile, Yoimiya playfully mused, "Spooky." before half-turning towards the changing room and adding, "I'll see you on the inside. There, you can admire my beauty as much as you like."
After punctuating her words with a wink, Yoimiya turned around and made her way into the changing room. This left Paul and Amber as the only two people remaining in the corridor, the latter suddenly appearing nervous as she hid her hands behind her back, averted her eyes, and softly muttered, "Hey...about tonight..."
Raising his brows, Paul asked, "What's up...?" in a curious tone that belied the fact he already had a pretty good idea what Amber was about to ask.
Matching Paul's expectations, Amber eventually met his gaze as she said, "I'm worried about Diona. I know you would never do anything to try and hurt us, but I don't think she should be alone for her first time. I talked to Eula, and she told me about some of the stuff you did together..."
As someone who had only slept with the immature version of Paul, Amber couldn't help feeling worried after hearing Eula express just how much he had grown. Seeing him in person had only exacerbated her concerns, as, despite being around 153cm tall, she barely came up to Paul's shoulders.
Though he understood Amber's concerns, Paul ultimately shook his head and said, "I promised Diona it would be just the two of us. If I showed up with you and other girls in tow, can you imagine how betrayed she would feel?"
Knowing Diona better than just about anyone, Amber exhaled a defeated sigh in response to Paul's words. Diona had an excessive amount of pride and was borderline obsessed with the concept of adulthood. Amber had even discovered the pink-haired cat girl engrossed in some pretty colorful books, all in preparation for the day she would prove herself to Paul.
Hugging herself as an act of self-comfort, Amber looked up at Paul with a pleading gaze as she said, "Please be gentle with her...she likes to act like an adult, but Diona is still a child in many ways. She would never admit it, but there are times when she will cry and call out to her father when she sleeps..."
Exhaling a sigh of his own, Paul annoyed Amber ever so slightly by patting down her ribbon and caressing her head. The truth of the matter was that he was well aware of Diona's recurring nightmares. She was a desperately lonely girl, so much so that the entire reason she became a bartender was due to her father's alcoholism. Her dream of creating a drink so disgusting that it caused people to quit drinking entirely was so that her father would spend more time with her.
"Relax. I'm not some brute that only knows how to shove his dick into a hole. Even if someone put a blade up to my throat and threatened to kill me, I wouldn't harm Diona..."
Though she crinkled her brows due to Paul's roguish language, Amber felt at ease hearing his follow-up remark. Paul wasn't the type of person to go back on his word, so she believed Diona would be okay after hearing him make such a bold statement.
Surprising Paul with a firm hug, Amber rubbed her cheek against his chest as she whispered, "Thank you, Paul." in a sincere tone. Then, feeling more than a little embarrassed, she followed Xinyan's example by turning away and promptly retreating into the changing room...
...
..
.

Chapter 103: MI103: Caught in the Moment