Mushoku Impact

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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"So your plan is to enter the capital, ensure the safety of your children, and then flee if things go South?"
After enjoying a brief, twenty-minute cuddle session, Ningguang and Paul eventually got around to discussing the reason for his surprise visit to the Strife Zone. She had already received a report from Ganyu, but Ningguang believed it was important to hear things from Paul's point of view. He was, after all, the lynchpin upon which all their futures hinged.
Nodding his head in affirmation, Paul asserted, "Even if I don't think I'm ready to be a father, I don't want to be the type of shitbag who tries to avoid responsibility for his actions. It isn't their fault they were born into this world, so I have an obligation to keep them safe until they figure out a path for themselves..."
Though she smiled approvingly in response to Paul's words, Ningguang felt an atypical urge to roll her eyes. As for the reason, well, it was fairly straightforward...
"Well, if that's the case, you'll be relieved to know that your children aren't in the capital. The Water God, Reida, had enough foresight to deliver them in secrecy. At the present moment, the two of them are living safely within the Notos Estate."
"..."
Since he already knew his kids were staying with his parents, Paul wasn't entirely sure how to respond to Ningguang's words. The reason he was so worried was because it was only a matter of time before they were forced to relocate to the capital. At the very least, that's what he believed due to his upbringing as a Greater Noble...
Seeing the mixed emotions in Paul's expression, the most prominent being frustration, Ningguang quickly realized what must have happened. He had likely jumped to conclusions due to his general contempt for the Nobility, seemingly forgetting he wasn't the only one concerned for the twins' well-being.
"While it would be beneficial to have the twins relocate to the capital, that is a matter for the far future. More specifically, I intended to convince you to nominate your children for the position of-"
Interrupting Ningguang before she could finish, Paul answered, "Princess Ariel's Guardians. Yeah, I already figured that much out on my own. The problem here is that I don't want to use my kids as pawns to increase my power and influence. I get that it's a perfectly normal thing for people in my position, but I honestly couldn't care less about this world's common sense."
"Hmmm...I see..."
Though Paul's words invariably made things more difficult, Ningguang didn't blame or try to convince him to stick with her plan. Having his kids become the Guardians of Ariel might be the most straightforward way of improving relations with the Asura Kingdom, but it was far from their only option. The others were just a little more...aggressive...
"There are three options that are readily available to you. Two require you to place yourself in a relatively precarious position, but they are your best options if you want to ensure the safety of your entire family, not just your children. The first is to follow my original plan, demonstrating your loyalty to the Kingdom by serving as the King's envoy. As for the second..."
Drawing a line over her neck, Ningguang adopted a predatory smile as she added, "The second option is to expose yourself and play the part of a prophet. If you can convince the King you have knowledge of the future while also exhibiting power that presents an active threat to the Kingdom, he will have no choice but to consider your words carefully..."
Adopting a marginally more serious expression, Ningguang explained, "The problem with that method is that entities such as Perugius, Orsted, and Hitogami will begin monitoring your every action. Countless people will try to assassinate you, and, in the worst-case scenario, Orsted may hunt you down for no better reason than removing an unknown variable..."
Furrowing his brows, Paul asked, "And how is that supposed to help me protect my family...?"
Holding up three fingers, Ningguang answered, "Zhongli, Kusanali, and Ei. If you display their power and attest to being the Master of three Greater Elemental Spirits, the First Prince and his Faction will be too afraid of the consequences to take overt action against you or your family. Sure, some will try, but House Notos wouldn't have endured for thousands of years if it was vulnerable against assassins. That just leaves convincing the King you're not a threat, or, more specifically, a threat to his reign..."
Pulling out her pipe, Ningguang allowed Paul a moment to think as she packed it with a substance resembling processed hemp. She had far more potent substances available, but she knew Paul wasn't particularly fond of smoking. He never chastised her for it, but he would always adopt a frown and keep his distance...
Seeing Ningguang packing her long pipe, Paul, unsurprisingly, furrowed his brows. In response, she turned her eyes up at him and said, "Relax. I wasn't going to light it..." in a playful tone.
"Uh-huh..."
Since he knew Ningguang probably had other things going on besides entertaining him, Paul planted a surprise kiss on her lips before asking, "And the third option? I'll do it if I have to, but I'm not really in a hurry to expose myself to those three monsters. I still want to grow a bit stronger before I start walking around like I own the world..."
Though she took a moment to touch her lips, Ningguang eventually went on the state, "I thought you might say that. That's why the third option is to remain here in the Strife Zone. Here, you can spend time with everyone while focusing on expanding your power and influence. Didn't you want to start expanding your Teleportation Network...?"
"Mmm..."
Noticing the conflict in Paul's gaze, a soft chuckle emanated from Ningguang's throat before she leaned her head against his shoulder and asserted, "No matter what you choose, we will continue to support you to the best of our ability. And, who knows? If things go well tonight, we may have even more options to work with..."
Since Paul had already revealed his intentions to do a mass summoning, Ningguang informed him of all the gold she had set aside for him. She had effectively seized control of every operational mine along the 'wings' and 'spine' of the Red Dragon Mountain Range. Few yielded prized resources such as gold, silver, and platinum, but that didn't really matter since Paul had managed to acquire Albedo.
Though she was incapable of turning lead into gold, Albedo's mastery of the 'Art of Khemia' had almost universal applications. With the assistance of people like Zhongli, Kusanali, Yoimiya, and even Qiqi, she had managed to create antibiotics, several types of fertilizer, and some rather terrifying explosives. She had yet to make any progress towards finding a 'solution' to long-term separation from Paul, but the simplest way to deal with that was to prevent him from thinking about them.
Paul wasn't aware of it, but it was his desire/longing to be reunited with certain people that caused them to feel increasingly stressed when they were apart. While it was true their bodies would become unstable if they didn't periodically receive his 'essence,' it wasn't as bad as Kay's situation made it out to be. So long as they didn't overexert themselves, they could persist almost indefinitely so long as they consumed mana-rich foods and liquids. They would simply never feel completely satiated, a condition that invariably led to all kinds of problems.
While tracing her index finger around one of the buttons on Paul's tunic, Ningguang added, "If you manage to attain another one of the Seven, those that have been forced to sit idly these past three years will finally be able to move. I'm personally hoping for Lady Murata, but even Venti would be a tremendous boon if you decide to take Jean with you to the Capital..."
Though they had more Cryo and Hydro allies than Pyro or Anemo allies, Ningguang wasn't in any hurry to have Paul summon the Tsaritsa. Varuna was also widely regarded as a 'justice nut,' so her presence was bound to affect the group's stability. As for Murata and Venti, the former only really cared about fighting, a perfect fit for the Strife Zone, while the latter had a flair for the dramatic and a penchant for heralding revolutions.
With Ningguang bringing up Venti, a 'serious,' contemplative expression appeared on Paul's face as he seriously considered whether she would actually look any different. Before Mihoyo made a statement about it, the entire Genshin community had mistaken Venti as a petite, rather adorable female bard. When it was eventually revealed that she was, in fact, a he, a lot of people were understandably pissed. It didn't help that 'his' Archon outfit had her wearing almost panty-like shorts with absolutely no sign of a bulge...
Seeing Paul with such a serious look on his face, Ningguang decided not to interrupt him. She didn't know what he was thinking about, but it must be something important to him.
When Paul finally came back to his senses, Ningguang elected to reveal, "We have around 138,000 AGC in our coffers, but it's been separated into various caches around the Strife Zone. If you need additional funds, I can only provide you with around 15,000 at the present moment."
Shaking his head, Paul said, "That shouldn't be necessary. I don't know the exact amount, but I still have a metric fuck-ton of gold sitting in the IOF. If I can't acquire at least one Archon with all of that, the system is rigged..."
Though they both felt as though Paul had just jinxed himself, Ningguang managed a supportive smile as she mused, "Then I'll leave it to you. For now, there are a few matters that require my attention. If you could send Ganyu and Kokomi to assist me, that would be a great help. Xingqiu and Yaoyao have done their best to pick up the slack, but Ganyu's thousands of years of experience make her an irreplaceable asset..."
Hearing Ningguang casually refer to Ganyu as an asset, Paul couldn't help furrowing his brows. He knew she didn't mean anything by it, but he didn't like hearing the lovable Qilin being objectified.
Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, Ningguang gave Paul a nudge with her shoulder, saying, "It's a business term. With one apparent exception, no one values Ganyu more than I do. Not in terms of her actual value, but as a friend and confidant. There is a reason she is the only one I allow to see my vulnerable side..."
While it is was true she used to view Ganyu as an extremely convenient relic of the past, living and working together for seven years had a way of breaking down such sentiments. She would never admit it to anyone, not even Paul, but she would often rest her head on Ganyu's smooth, slightly cool thighs after a particularly tiresome day of work.&nbsp;
Paul wasn't the only one who benefitted from Ganyu's calming presence...
Deciding to take Ningguang's words at face value, Paul nodded his head and said, "I'll send them over. After that, I'll probably spend the rest of the day looking around and meeting up with everyone I haven't had the chance to talk to. I know I shouldn't tease her too much, but I'm kind of looking forward to seeing how Gorou is going to react now that she has developed in such an extreme manner..."
"Ah..."
Recalling how Gorou had hidden away for several days following her 'explosive' development, a wry smile developed across Ningguang's face. Gorou had since gotten used to being a buxom and attractive beauty, but it had taken a lot of outside support to get her out of her depressive state.&nbsp;
It didn't help that nearly all their male staff and more than sixty members of the Beast Race had attempted to court her this mating season alone...
"Just try not to stare too much. Gorou gets really self-conscious about the size of her breasts and butt. Also, as enticing as they may be, you should avoid attempting to caress her head or touch her tail. She needs to be the one to make the first move, or she might suffer a mental breakdown..."
Feeling nervous all of a sudden, Paul's smile cramped as he tentatively inquired, "Should I just avoid her then...?
Shaking her head, Ningguang's expression became serious as she said, "You should just be yourself, minus the perversion. Gorou knows what she 'needs' to do, so she will eventually take the initiative so long as you don't view her like a piece of meat. She will doubtlessly be extremely awkward at first, but it shouldn't take her long to open up since you're the type that can't help feeling genuine concern for others..."
"..."
Recalling that Ningguang and the others were effectively able to sense his thoughts through their empathic connection, Paul now had a better understanding of why everyone regarded him as a good person. Even if he presented a casual and easy-going smile on the surface, they had been able to sense the worry and concern hidden beneath his mask of calm...
("Fuck my life...")
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"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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Chapter 107: MI107: Affection : Honesty