Mushoku Impact

"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...
...
..
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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...
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.&nbsp;

Since he wasn't really feeling tired, Paul ended up staying awake the right of the night. He could stay awake for upwards of ten thanks to his Dendro Vision, so he was still fully awake when Ganyu came knocking on his door around 4 AM.
Though Diona and Kokomi immediately awoke, Paul caressed the head of the former and whispered, "Sleep in today," adding, "No buts." just as she was about to protest. Her expression contorted into an adorable pout, but Paul was able to appease her by placing his hand on her stomach, gently caressing it as he kissed her lips.
As Kokomi changed into the outfit Paul had procured for her earlier that morning, Paul made his way to the door completely naked, opening it to find Ganyu and, unsurprisingly, Amber waiting outside. The latter's eyes immediately traveled South, but Ganyu was wholly focused on Paul's face as she smiled and said, "Good morning, Master." in her characteristically calm and soothing tone.
Adopting a smile of his own, Paul said, "I know how to make it better..." before wrapping his arms around the dreamy-eyed blunette's waist. Her eyes briefly widened, but she offered no resistance as Paul lowered his head to kiss her lips. Instead, she wrapped her arms around him, closed her eyes, and savored every second of it.
Awed by Paul's and Ganyu's display of affection, Amber briefly forgot the reason for her presence. When she did, she attempted to peek around the kissing couple but failed to make anything out due to Paul's size and the unlit interior of the room.
Noticing Amber's behavior, Paul removed one of his hands from Ganyu and gave the free-spirited woman's ass a playful squeeze. She exclaimed and tried to step away instinctually, but Paul prevented her from doing so. Instead, he promptly pulled her closer, silencing whatever she was about to say with a deep, full-tongued kiss.
Though she panicked like a startled rabbit near the start, attempting to wriggle herself free, Amber quickly regained her senses and calmed down when she recalled that it was Paul who was kissing her. Their three years apart had made her unaccustomed to such acts, so her body had reacted before her brain could fully process what was happening.
As 'punishment' for her trying to slip away from him, Paul slipped his hand into Amber's form-fitting pants, past the protective layer of her panties so he could feel her ass directly. Her body tensed in response, but she made no efforts to break free. Instead, she slipped one of her arms around him and the other around Ganyu, holding them both as she slowly lost herself in Paul's kiss.
Feeling he had gotten the results he wanted, Paul brought his impromptu experiment to an end by separating from Amber's lips and saying, "Good morning..." with a smoldering expression and tone.
Still immersed in the sensation of Paul's kiss, Amber emitted a confused, "Ah...?" before blushing crimson as she shrank into herself and replied, "G-G-G-Good morning..." in an uncharacteristically meek tone.
Though he was amused by Amber's adorable reaction, Paul resisted the urge to continue teasing her, removing his hand from her trousers as he asked, "I'm guessing you came to check on Diona?"
Regaining her usual vigor, Amber adopted a more serious expression as she replied, "That's right! How is she...!?" in a concerned tone.
Stepping to the side, Paul answered, "She's trying to sleep, but you're free to check on her if you're that concerned."
Hearing Paul's casual response, Amber couldn't help feeling a little guilty. Despite that, she still ended up slipping past him, needing to confirm for herself Diona was okay.
"Oh my..."
In her haste to enter the room, Amber nearly ran headlong into Kokomi. The latter managed to evade her with an extremely graceful movement, but her presence, alone, was enough to make Amber exclaim, "Who the heck are you!?" in a surprised, understandably confused tone.
Answering in Kokomi's stead, Paul said, "Kokomi, Amber. Amber, Kokomi. And this adorable little Qilin is Ganyu. Make sure to get along."
While Amber adopted an incredulous look, Kokomi supplied a polite bow, expressing, "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintances." Ganyu promptly returned a bow of her own, but not before adopting a squinty-eyed smile in response to Paul's casual compliment...
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.
Once Amber had calmed down enough to stop exclaiming at every little thing, Paul explained the circumstances that led to Kokomi's summoning before entrusting her the task of looking after Diona. She had apparently been loitering around in the corridor outside the entire night, so it was a good opportunity for her to get some rest and decompress and getting so worked up.
With Diona in the care of Amber, Ganyu was able to accompany Paul and Kokomi to Ningguang's room. She would ordinarily be in her office around this time, but she was temporarily out of commission as a result of Paul's actions the previous day. Ganyu had treated her using Advanced-Ranked Healing Magic, but she kept 'leaking' despite her efforts to stymy the flow.
Hearing Ganyu's familiar knocking at the door, a profound, audibly heated sigh escaped Ningguang's throat as she forced herself to roll lazily to the side and press the button that allowed her door to open remotely. If she had been thinking clearly, she would have recognized that the pattern of knocks indicated there was an unplanned guest, but Ningguang wasn't in any condition to mind such details.
Entering the room ahead of his female companions, Paul was surprised to find Ningguang lazing about, still in her undergarments. Various thoughts immediately filled his head, but he was able to recover fast enough to turn around, barring the other two's entrance as he suggested, "Why don't the two of you go and get some breakfast? Ganyu has served as Ningguang's Secretary these past few years, so she should be able to answer most, if not all, of your questions..."
Though they were surprised by Paul's sudden change in behavior, neither Ganyu nor Kokomi attempted to peek into the room. They were both fairly sensible women, so, after their initial shock wore off, they adopted nearly identical smiles and replied, "Very well/Understood." before offering polite bows and heading toward the canteen(dining hall).&nbsp;
Seeing the duo walk off, Paul briefly allowed his gaze to wander to their perky, immaculately sculpted bottoms before ultimately shaking his head and closing the door. By the time he turned around, Ningguang had forced herself to sit upright, a conspicuous red hue accenting her cheeks as she avoided his gaze and muttered, "Thanks..." while hugging her body.
While leaning with his back against the door, Paul adopted a wry smile and asked, "I didn't go 'that' overboard, did I...?"
Furrowing her brows, Ningguang didn't immediately respond to Paul's words. Part of her wanted to say she could take whatever he could throw at her, but the previous afternoon's events had made it very clear she was lacking. She now had a much better understanding of just how bottomless the abyss of pleasure was...
Making his way over to the uncharacteristically reticent woman's side, Paul took a seat next to Ningguang, grabbing her hand before whispering, "Lay down..." in a soothing tone. She initially just stared back at him, but, after several seconds of tentative silence, Ningguang eventually exhaled a sigh before heeding Paul's words and lying on her back.
Wanting to try another experiment, Paul didn't explain his actions as he placed his hand on Ningguang's exposed abdomen, just above her crest. He had already conducted similar experiments with Diona, Kokomi, and Amber, so he was reasonably sure he could make Ningguang feel better by simply 'desiring' it strong enough.&nbsp;
Feeling Paul with a sense of vindication, Ningguang's expression began to relax as she remarked, "I have no idea what you're doing...but, whatever it is, it appears to be working..."
Placing her hand over Paul's, Ningguang allowed a sigh of relief to escape her throat as she closed her eyes and guided his palm to draw circles on her abdomen. She couldn't sense any Mana or Elemental Energy, but the heat from Paul's palm seemed to linger in her body, gradually permeating her entire being like the warmth of an onsen in early Spring.
Deciding to come forward rather than trying to keep it a secret, Paul's expression and tone appeared as calm and placid as the surface of a lake as he admitted, "I came to the realization that my desires have a passive influence on you and the other girls..."
Rather than reacting as he anticipated, Ningguang adopted a faint smile and revealed, "We've been aware of that from the start. According to the God of the Boundaries, it's intended to make it easier for us to understand and empathize with one another."
Since Paul had figured it out on his own, the clause preventing Ningguang from revealing the truth no longer applied. She was still unable to divulge the specifics, but she could at least affirm what he already knew.
"..."
As it had taken a considerable amount of resolve to muster up the courage to reveal his discovery, Paul couldn't help feeling like a complete idiot hearing Ningguang's casual response. He had spent hours thinking about how the girls might hate or judge him, but they had been aware of the 'truth' since the very beginning...
Seeing through Paul's thoughts, Ningguang squeezed his hand and said, "I'm happy that you trusted me enough to reveal this information...I know it couldn't have been easy for you..."
Forcing a wry smile, Paul retorted, "That doesn't change the fact I'm a fucking idiot..."
Instead of refuting Paul's words, Ningguang adopted a playful smile as she said, "Perhaps...." before guiding his hand further up her body as she added, "But you're our idiot..."
Unable to suppress it, Paul exhaled a chuckle in response to Ningguang's words. They weren't particularly delicate or comforting, but Paul honestly preferred them over the alternatives. He often made jokes and comments at his expense, so it was refreshing to hear someone else joining in. Being comforted all the time actually made him feel worse in the long run...
With Ningguang guiding his hand to her left breast, Paul didn't hesitate to give it a gentle squeeze. Her eyes squinted in response, and, though she honestly had a lot on her plate, that didn't stop Ningguang from drawing the tips of Paul's fingers to her lips, planting a lasting kiss on them before asking, "What else can you do with these fingers...?"
Though his body instantly reacted to Ningguang's seduction, Paul hadn't forgotten the state she was in mere minutes prior. Thus, despite a rather obvious tent pitching in his trousers, he pulled his fingers away from her lips and whispered, "Lay on your side, and I'll show you..."
Sensing that Paul was up to something, Ningguang squinted her eyes a second time before following his directions and turning on her side. She half expected him pull aside her already sopping wet panties and insert himself into her in a single motion. Instead, he snuggled up close to her, his left hand moving to caress her abdomen as he planted a kiss on her shoulder and affirmed, "We don't always have to have sex..." in a soft yet assertive tone.
Feeling the same warmth as before spreading through her abdomen, the expression on Ningguang's face softened. She had expected something like this to happen, but Paul's tenderness still left an impression on her heart. There were times when he was like a beast, but, deep down, Paul was the same kind and considerate boy she had met all those years ago...
Deciding to tease Paul, just a little, Ningguang's smile curled at the edges as she softly inquired, "Are you using your powers to make me fall in love with you...?"
Feeling Paul's body tense, a soft chuckle emanated from Ningguang's throat as she suddenly turned toward him, staring him in the face as she said, "Guess it's just me then..." before grabbing his head and planting a kiss on his lips.
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. &nbsp;

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...
...
..
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Chapter 106: MI106: Within the Shadows