Mushoku Impact

With Diluc, someone he had yet to summon, appearing within the catalog, Paul realized he could get a sneak preview of his future summons. Zhongli had informed him there were more than a hundred, so while he had yet to summon anyone he wasn't familiar with, Paul knew it was only a matter of time before a character released after his death appeared.
Flipping to the next page, Paul was immediately rewarded with the image of a woman with extraordinarily long and silvery hair sitting listlessly at a circular table. Her expression was borderline emotionless, but she had an incredible body, poorly concealed underneath a black cocktail dress with two remarkably inviting slits near the hips.
"Nice..."
As he was distracted by the silver-haired beauty on the left, Paul didn't notice the person precariously displayed on the right. When he did look over, he abruptly snapped the catalog shut, his smile visibly straining as he handed the book back to Katheryne and said, "I'll look at this some other time..."
Though she was tempted to ask what Paul had seen, Katheryne knew he wasn't in the best state of mind. She didn't want to set him off after he had calmed down, so she just received the catalog with a smile and said, "We look forward to your continued patronage."
"Right..."
In an effort to distract himself from the image that appeared to have burned itself into his retinas, Paul shifted his attention to the summoning circle at the center of the platform. He was planning to do a gacha spree the following evening, but Diona's words had left him wanting to confirm a few things.
While he had done his best to ignore it, Paul wasn't oblivious to the fact that everyone he had summoned through the IOF seemed to conform to his views of them. He initially believed this to be the result of his general familiarity with the characters, but recent events had made it increasingly apparent that something more was going on. It was like his desires were shaping the behaviors of people around him...
Shaking such negative sentiments from his mind, Paul made his way over to the summoning circle and commenced feeding gold into it. Katheryne's words were still fresh in his mind, so Paul concluded it really didn't matter what the truth was. If he lacked the power to change it, the only thing he could do was continue living and accumulating strength. Besides, he was in much too deep to back out now...
With ten Intertwined Fates manifesting around the summoning circle, Paul took a moment to consider who he would like to summon. The silver-haired woman from the catalog had an incredible physique, but her eyes exuded aloofness. It wasn't difficult to imagine her being a cold, uncaring woman who viewed everything else as being beneath her. Hell, there was a chance she was the Tsaritsa herself...
Thinking about characters he was familiar with but had yet to summon, a wry smile developed across Paul's face as he muttered, "Well, as long as it isn't someone like Klee or Sayu, everything should work out. Venti could actually be pretty interesting..."
Imagining a version of the infamously androgynous Archon with massive tits, Paul squinted his eyes and activated the summoning circle, shouting, "Confirm...!" before raising his gaze to the sky.
Seeing the comet gain a purple hue before splitting into two purple and blue lights, expectation began to build within Paul until the beams struck the summoning circle and revealed themselves to be a remarkably similar bow and catalyst.
Though he would be lying if he said he wasn't a little disappointed, Paul knew the power of 4-Star Weapons wasn't something he could just write off. Catalysts were also pretty rare, so Ningguang was bound to be happy he had obtained a new one.&nbsp;
After removing the weapons from the center and placing them off to the side, Paul turned back to the summoning circle and said, "In for a penny, in for a pound..."
Steeling himself for the inevitable, Paul repeated the process of inserting gold and activating the summoning circle a total of nine times. Four of the rolls were complete misses, giving him nothing but 3-Star Weapon fodder, but the rest provided some pretty decent rewards.&nbsp;
First and foremost among Paul's 'hits' were Constellations for Lisa and a buxom dog girl he believed to be the genderbent Gorou. She was one of the few people who hadn't shown up at the bath, and Paul could kind of see why. Compared to her rather tomboyish appearance from when they were children, Gorou had matured to an extent exceeding even Kay...
Following the double Constellation hit, Paul received a miss, followed by a Constellation for Xinyan. With Barbara securing the first, that made Xinyan the second person to have attained their fourth Constellation.
Though he was looking forward to Xinyan's reaction once she realized she had received a power increase, Paul was momentarily more excited by the 4-Star Claymore he acquired immediately after her Constellation. It was a duplicate of a weapon he already possessed, but that was actually a good thing as it could be used to strengthen the one he already had.
Shelving that matter for the future, Paul proceeded to his ninth series of rolls with bated breath. He had yet to obtain anything 'new' thus far, so he was curious to see which 5-Star Character or Weapon would pop out now that he had reached the Pity cap.
As the meteor shifted from cerulean blue to a bright, luminous shade of gold, Paul could feel his adrenaline and dopamine levels overflowing as it impacted the platform and coalesced into a physical form. This was a tell-tale sign that he had obtained someone new, so Paul couldn't help smiling as he wondered who would emerge from the nearly blinding light.
To Paul's considerable relief, the person who appeared was neither Klee nor Sayu. Rather, it was a character that had been leaked but had yet to be released at the time of his death.&nbsp;
Standing at 161cm tall and possessing long, salmon-pink hair styled in a high ponytail that resembled a bow split into two tails, the woman Paul had summoned was none other than Sangonomiya Kokomi, the brilliant strategist and Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island. She was currently wearing a Maid uniform in place of her fish-themed priestess garb, but Paul immediately recognized her as there were countless memes associated with the fact she had -100% CRIT Chance built into her kit.
Rising to her feet, Kokomi paused for a moment as she stared at Paul. For several seconds, neither said nor did anything until Kokomi adopted a faint smile and said, "You must be my Master, Paul Notos Greyrat. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Though Kokomi's smile didn't appear to reach her pale, purple, seemingly pupilless eyes, Paul didn't get the impression she was particularly sad or disappointed. Rather, the watery surface of her eyes gave off a feeling of distance, like they reflected the world from someplace far away...
With Paul not saying anything, just staring at her with a faraway look in his eyes, Kokomi tilted her head to the side and softly inquired, "Is something the matter?"
Coming to his senses, Paul shook his head and replied, "Nah, I just got a little distracted."
Surprised by Paul's rather casual response, Kokomi blinked a few times before responding, "Oh, I see..." in a thoughtful tone. It wasn't difficult to imagine 'why' Paul had gotten distracted, so her usually placid heart was beginning to beat ever so slightly faster.
Unaware of Kokomi's thoughts, Paul decided to ask the question lingering at the back of his mind, specifically, "How do you feel about me? There is something I'm trying to confirm, so I want to know your exact feelings at this very moment..."
Blinking several more times, Kokomi didn't immediately respond to Paul's words. She had expected them to at least introduce one another, but here he was asking her about something as abstract as feelings. It was a very peculiar development, one that caused her mind to churn with possible explanations for his behavior...
Not wanting to keep Paul waiting for too long, Kokomi eventually replied, "I feel fuzzy?"
Raising his right brow, Paul parroted, "Fuzzy...?" in a confused, questioning tone.&nbsp;
Nodding her head in affirmation, Kokomi placed her hands on her chest as she lowered her head, closed her eyes, and clarified, "I don't really know how to describe it. It's a little similar to the feeling I will get after drinking a bit of alcohol. My thoughts don't appear to be impeded, but it's like they have a certain...weight to them..."
Swaying her head from side to side, Kokomi had the impression she could 'feel' her brain. It was a little disorienting, but only when she tried to focus on it.
Though he could vaguely understand what Kokomi was trying to say, Paul was equally confused. His first thought was that she was in a hypnotic, trance-like, or suggestive state. It made a scary amount of sense given his apparent ability to order the girls around, but the question Paul really wanted an answer to was whether or not Kokomi could somehow sense his thoughts and desires.
While forcing himself to appear calm and collected on the surface, Paul envisioned himself and Kokomi doing some 'very' lewd things. Nothing happened at first, but after several seconds of silence, a faint shade of red began to bleed into Kokomi's cheeks as she opened her eyes, stared at him, and revealed, "I feel hot..." in an audibly nervous tone.
Inhaling a deep breath, Paul left Kokomi feeling even more confused as he began massaging his face and temples. Her reaction was pretty much all the proof he needed to confirm his suspicions. While he may not be in a simulation, it was apparent that the girls were sensitive to his thoughts and emotions. It was no wonder even girls like Eula had imprinted on him, as, even when they were younger, Paul would often fantasize about what he would do to her once they had matured...
Resisting the sudden and paradoxical urge to both laugh and cry at the same time, Paul performed a breathing exercise in an effort to rein in his chaotic emotions. He felt like a complete and utter bastard, but he also knew there was nothing he could do. It wasn't like he could just up and become a monastic monk; his circumstances simply didn't allow it.
Regaining control of his emotions, Paul raised his head and stared at the concerned-looking woman standing across from him. They had just met a few minutes prior, but Kokomi's forlorn expression gave off the impression she was deeply concerned for his well-being.
Suppressing his negative sentiments, Paul forced a smile as he, nearly inaudibly, inquired, "Have you prepared yourself...?"
Though she was momentarily confused by Paul's question, Kokomi quickly put two and two together as butterflies filled her chest and abdomen. She could feel her heart begin to quicken, and, though she only possessed a bit of theoretical knowledge on the subject, Kokomi ultimately nodded her head and confirmed, "I was prepared from the moment I first signed the contract..."
Despite feeling as though an invisible arrow had pierced his chest, Paul nodded his head and said, "That's good..." before extending his hand to the beautiful, salmon-haired beauty. Kokomi didn't immediately grasp his hand, but when she did, she adopted a faint smile as she petitioned, "My only request is that you be gentle...at least at the start..."
Nodding his head a second time, Paul's expression softened as he replied, "No problem..." before slowly guiding Kokomi toward the exit. He had the distinct impression he was about to spoil something pure and sacred, but he had come much too far to turn back now. All he could do was continue moving forward, determined to ensure his and the girls' story had a happy ending...
...
..
.

"Haaaa...haaaa...haaa..."
Though she benefitted from Diona waking up and taking turns with her, Kokomi was utterly exhausted after nearly three hours of discontinuous sex.&nbsp;
"You good...?"
Hearing the concern in Paul's tone, a bell-like chuckle emanated from Kokomi's as she replied, "Thank you...for your concern..." before rolling onto her side, staring at him with her hazy purple eyes as she added, "It feels a lot better than I expected..."
With Paul giving her a similar treatment as Diona, Kokomi had cum more than a dozen times before they moved on to having sex. It still hurt a lot when he first entered her, but the pain eventually gave way to a pleasant numbness that gradually built in intensity until even her brain was numb from pleasure.
Adopting a smile of his own, Paul said, "Well, don't push yourself..." as he caressed the head of the pink-haired girl using his knee as a pillow. Diona was even more drained than Kokomi, but the presence of another woman gave her the resolve to continue till the end. As a result, she was currently curled up in front of Paul, using his knee for support as she kissed, licked, and suckled the tip of his penis with an inebriated expression on her face.
Observing Diona's actions with a hint of listlessness in her gaze, Kokomi waited until her breathing had steadied before asserting, "The two of you must really care for one another..."
Since Diona was currently off in her own world, it was Paul who looked to Kokomi and asked, "What do you mean...?"
As if her eyes could see through all things, Kokomi continued to observe Diona as she asserted, "I can tell...the two of you share a powerful bond. I hope a day comes when I, too, can share such a bond with Master. She seems so happy..."
Though he furrowed his brows, Paul wasn't upset by Kokomi's words. A part of him felt obligated to refute them, but he summarily dismissed such thoughts as he stared intently at Diona. When she eventually noticed, her already beet-red face appeared to deepen in color as she stared back at him with an intense and passionate gaze.
Adopting a broader smile, Paul replied, "Perhaps you're right..." as he gave Diona's head a firm caress. Her hair was a complete mess, but she didn't seem to mind in the slightest as she squinted her eyes and increased the amount of suction she was applying to the tip of his penis.
Exhaling another soft chuckle, Kokomi insisted, "I'm sure of it..." before forcing herself to a seated position and adding, "I'm ready to continue when you are."
As if to demonstrate her readiness, Kokomi spread her legs and used her thin, delicate fingers to spread apart her perfectly smooth vulva to reveal her slightly swollen but sopping wet labia. Her vaginal entrance looked a little tender and sore, but the way it pulsed with the beating of her heart made it clear she was more than ready to continue.
After staring at the tantalizing sight for several tense moments, Paul both surprised and relieved Kokomi by shaking his head and saying, "There are only a few minutes till midnight. We should wrap things up so that the two of you aren't completely exhausted come morning..."
Nodding her head in understanding, Kokomi ceased presenting herself before asking, "Would you like me to wipe you down, or do you intend to go to sleep immediately? If possible, I would like to converse with you for a while longer..."
Since time wasn't completely stagnant in the part of the IOF that housed everyone's spirits, Kokomi knew she and Diona weren't the only ones Paul had summoned. As a strategist and Supreme Leader of one of Inuzuma's most influential Clans, she felt a considerable amount of unease not being apprised of their present circumstances.
Understanding what Kokomi was actually trying to say, Paul nodded his head and said, "Sure. There's a bucket over in the corner. I can use Water and Fire Magic to produce some hot water for us."
"Hmmm...?"
Though her eyes had somewhat adapted to the darkness, Kokomi couldn't see clearly like Paul. He helped by pointing her in the right direction, but it still took her a while to find it as she was afraid of tripping or bumping into something. It didn't help that there were distracting noises playing in the background...
When Kokomi eventually returned to Paul's oversized bed, she found him holding Diona's waist from behind, slowly thrusting into her as she did her best to support herself with her forehead and elbows. She didn't have the strength to prop herself up, so she just bent her body forward and let Paul do most of the work.
Not wanting to interrupt, Kokomi stood off to the side with a faint smile as she patiently waited for Paul to finish. When he did, she waited for him to finish caressing the half-conscious Diona's head before raising the bucket like a trophy and saying, "Found it~." in a sing-song tone.
"Mmm...good job..."
Since it seemed like she really wanted him to, Paul gave Kokomi a quick pat on the head. Her face practically lit up when he did, her expression morphing into a squinty-eyed smile as she readily disclosed, "It's been many years since someone last caressed my head. Not since I was made Divine Priestess of Watatsumi Island..."
Though he detected a hint of loneliness in Kokomi's voice, especially near the end, Paul didn't want to pry into her past. As a result, he forced one of his characteristically cocky smiles and replied, "Considering we've already had sex, a pat on the head is relatively tame..."
Seemingly amused by Paul's words, Kokomi covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. Afterward, she smiled to the point her eyes were on the verge of closing as she said, "I suppose you're right." in a strangely beguiling tone. It was like, for the briefest of moments, she had seen clearly through him.
"..."
Deciding to play dense, Paul accepted the bucket from Kokomi's hands and proceeded to fill it with warm water. As he did, she observed him like a veritable hawk, her eyes never blinking as they appeared to be covered in a perpetual layer of moisture.
"So that's Magic...It sure seems convenient..."
"Mmm..."
Having filled the bucket about halfway, Paul placed it on the ground and returned his attention to Kokomi. Seeing she hadn't grabbed towels or a bath stool, he said, "Wait here." before making his way over to the wooden cupboard next to where the bucket had been kept.
Seeing Paul return with a wooden stool, towels, and a wicker basket filled with bath supplies, a faint blush suffused Kokomi's cheeks. Before she could apologize for her oversight, however, Paul caught her off guard by saying, "Take a seat." in a calm yet ostensibly commanding tone.
Though her first instinct was to remind Paul that she was supposed to be serving him, Kokomi only hesitated for a brief moment before following his instructions.&nbsp;
After Kokomi had sat with her back facing him, Paul pulled out a bottle of oil and a comb with wide spacing between its teeth. He had accumulated a considerable amount of experience bathing alongside and helping wash women's bodies, so his movements were fairly smooth and natural as he began the lengthy process of cleaning Kokomi's remarkably long, salmon-pink hair, asking, "So? What did you want to talk about...?"
Surprised by Paul's sudden question, Kokomi uttered a soft, "Ah..." before quickly composing herself and explaining, "I wanted to inquire about our present circumstances. While I am perfectly content serving you with all my heart and body, my talents are better suited to administration and the military. The prejudiced views of this world may make it difficult for me to serve as your General, but I'm confident in serving as your Strategist and Advisor."
As he had never played through the Inazuma content, Paul had trouble believing someone as fair and delicate-seeming as Kokomi could lead an army. He didn't doubt that she had, but it didn't really make a lot of sense outside the context of Genshin. At the very least, he couldn't imagine her lasting more than a few seconds against a monster like Ei...
Since he didn't really feel like explaining everything in the middle of the night, Paul answered, "I'll take you to meet with Ningguang first thing in the morning. I've been doing my own thing for the past three or so years, so she's the one you'd need to ask if you want to get up to speed.
Blinking in surprise, various thoughts raced across Kokomi's mind in mere seconds as she concurrently replied, "I see..." in an almost disappointed-sounding tone. Paul immediately caught onto this, asking, "What's up...?" despite a slight frown marring his face.
Even without looking at Paul's face, Kokomi had caught the subtle change in his tone, answering, "Forgive me...it's just, I always imagined the man I would dedicate myself to being a peerless and capable Lord. That's not to say Master Paul isn't an amazing person, but-"
Before Kokomi could finish, Paul exhaled a soft laugh, a self-deprecating smile developing across his face as he said, "Relax, you've done nothing warranting an apology. I understand better than anyone just how weak I am. Luckily for you, I'm determined to keep growing stronger until no one, not even the Archons, can defeat me..."
Though he currently couldn't even imagine the power of an Archon in their prime, Paul could feel himself growing stronger with each passing day. He might not be the one to strike down Hitogami, but after everything he had been forced to tolerate, he was determined to give the God of Boundaries at least one good punch. If they turned out to be a female, he might even clap her cheeks...she sure as hell deserved it...
...
..
.
While Paul continued his conversation with Kokomi, three women, each possessing glowing amber eyes, simultaneously frowned. Paul had not spoken aloud, but they existed as a part of the Intersection of Fate that had fused with his Spirit and Ego. They could not peer into the depths of his memories, but they were intimately aware of his surface thoughts.
Voicing her thoughts aloud, a young woman who Paul would have readily misconstrued as Luciana's daughter coldly declared, "Arrogance beyond redemption..."
Revealing that the young girl was, in fact, the very same Luciana that had informed Paul of his status as Champion, the ashen-haired woman acting as the leader of the trio said, "That's enough, Luciana. We knew what kind of man he was when we picked him as our Champion. If it's to ensure the completion of our objective, we should be prepared to sacrifice ourselves as well..."
Furrowing her brows, Luciana looked toward the ashen-haired woman, asking, "You would submit yourself to such a man? Then what use are the people we have enslaved through the contract?"
Showing no signs of emotion on her cold, calculating face, the ashen-haired woman calmly replied, "You already know the answer to that. They are necessary to nourish the Void Energy gestating within the Champion's body. As his essence flows through them, it becomes stronger and more refined."
Adopting a cold and calculating expression of her own, Luciana retorted, "That doesn't answer my question. If nourishing his Void Energy was our principal-"
Interrupting before Luciana could finish, a glowing, diamond-shaped rune flickered to life in front of the ashen-haired woman's forehead as she said, "Enough. The only thing that matters is the actualization of our objective. If that requires you to sacrifice yourself, you will do so without complaint. Do I make myself clear?"
Though she narrowed her amber, reticle-like eyes in contempt, Luciana replied, "Crystal." before creating a zipper-like tear in the space behind her. She needed to blow off some steam, so she created a portal to one of the few worlds yet to be affected by the devastation sweeping across multiple realities...
...
..
.&nbsp;

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...
...
..
.

Chapter 105: MI105: Desire