Mushoku Impact

Upon reaching the Citadel and deboarding their carriage, Reida turned to Paul and said, "About those lasses you brought along...the Citadel doesn't exactly entertain guests. If they're going to stay here, they'll need to work or train. I'm also not particularly fond of sharing, so..."
Narrowing her eyes, Reida stared directly into Paul's as she added, "You'll need to choose. If you decide to stay with me these next five months, we can behave as brazen as we please. If you'd rather fool around with those little ducklings of yours, you'll have to live among the other male disciples. I don't care if people know about our relationship, but I'd lose all face if they knew I was just one of the women you were fucking. I am the Water God; I still have a reputation to uphold..."
Though he furrowed his brows, Paul wasn't incapable of empathizing with Reida's predicament. Most people would automatically presume she was the one that had taken an interest in him, grooming him into her successor with a carrot and stick approach. That view would shift rather drastically if it became known she was just one of many women he slept with.
"I'll talk with them once we get back. I can't promise I won't sleep with other women these next five months, but I can at least take it outside the Capital. That should suffice, right...?"
Nodding her head, Reida replied, "That's fine by me. So long as you aren't acting all lovey-dovey with other women during your stay in the Citadel, I couldn't care less what you do in private. Just remember that while you're here, you're mine."
Though she was now quite a bit shorter than Paul, that didn't stop Reida from pulling his collar and planting a kiss on his lips. Quite a few people had been eyeing them with curiosity, so even if Paul didn't truly belong to her, Reida intended to make it appear that way...
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After hearing Paul's explanation, a low-spirited sigh emanated from Venti's throat as she remarked, "If I had known something like this was going to happen, I wouldn't have held back these past couple of weeks..."
Adopting a mildly incredulous look, Paul retorted, "Held back? We've been doing it like rabbits nearly every day for the past three months..."
Raising her hands and shrugging exaggeratedly, Venti replied, "Well, yeah. I've got nearly three millennia of abstinence to make up for. At least we've stopped to take breaks."
"..."
Deciding to ignore the perpetually horny Archon, Paul shifted his attention to the rest of the group, asking, "So, what do you girls want to do? I know some of you plan to train here, but what about the rest of you? Reida has said she can arrange teaching positions for you at the Royal Academy, but waiting in the IOF is also an option."
Disregarding the fact Paul was at least pretending to ignore her, Venti was the first to answer, "I don't mind roleplaying as a teacher. The question is, what should I teach? Poetry, song, or perhaps Wind Magic? I'm not overly familiar with this world's Magic, but I'm fairly confident I can play the part of a Wind King. Maybe even an Emperor~?"
Shaking his head, Paul asserted, "Emperor is too excessive. If you exhibit that kind of might, everyone in the Kingdom will take notice. Also...not to sound rude, Venti, but you're one of the last people I would trust to act on their own. That isn't to say you aren't capable, but with your appearance and playful disposition, everyone from the faculty to the students would be trying to take advantage of you..."
Instead of taking offense to Paul's words, Venti stuck out her tongue and said, "Praise will get you everywhere~." in a playful tone.
"Right..."
Shifting his attention back to the others, Paul focused his gaze on Jean as he asked, "How about it? Any preferences...?"
Without needing to consider her response, Jean calmly stated, "I would like to stay and train within the Citadel. Though I wouldn't mind teaching, I see this as an excellent opportunity to refamiliarize myself with the use of my Vision."
Nodding his head in approval, Paul remarked, "Sounds reasonable." before shifting his attention to Ei. The moment he did, her eyes narrowed ever so slightly as she insisted, "It is my duty to remain at your side and keep you safe..."
Unsurprised by Ei's remark, Paul adopted a faint smile as he remarked, " I guess that about settles it, then. Venti will hang out in the Intersection of Fate for a bit while the rest of us focus on training."
Though she wasn't legitimately angry, Venti interjected, saying, "Now wait just one moment. What about Ganyu? She doesn't even use a sword...!"
In response to Venti's remark, Ganyu promptly reverted to her miniature Qilin form before moseying over and making herself comfortable in Paul's lap. As she did, Venti's brow twitched ever so slightly as she said, "That's cheating..."
While running his fingers through the velvety smooth fur of Ganyu's coat, Paul attempted to cheer Venti up by saying, "Look on the bright side. If you enter the IOF, it will only be a blip in time before we're out exploring the world together."
Tilting her head to the side, Venti brought a finger up to her chin as she remarked, "Hmmm...you do make a fair point. However...!"
Pointing directly a Paul, the former could swear he saw steam coming out of Venti's nose as she declared, "The next time I come out, we're going at it for two&mdash;no&mdash;five whole days! A day for each month you kept me locked away...!"
"..."
Though he felt like smacking the perverted woman upside the head, Paul surprised everyone present by appearing to consider it. The longest he had gone at it thus far was with a heated Ghislaine, but they had taken a lot of breaks in between. Five days was a little ridiculous, but Paul felt he could pull it off if he paced himself...
Surprising even Venti, Paul ultimately shrugged his shoulders and said, "Sure. Truth be told, I am a little curious to know my 'maximum' in terms of sexual stamina. I doubt we can go non-stop for five days, but I should be able to keep it up until you tap out."
Feeling the muscles in her abdomen tense, a combination of fear and excitement swelled within Venti's chest. Ever since her first time having sex, she had wanted to experience even greater levels of pleasure. Paul had messed her up pretty badly in the past, but their longest session was around thirteen hours with other people present. Five days was nearly ten times that amount, and unless she sought outside assistance, she would have to accept his everything by herself...
As her heart began to race, the smile on Venti's face became somewhat distorted as she said, "You, my dearest Master, have got yourself a deal."
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With his discussion with the girls finished and Venti safely secured in the IOF, Paul made his way to Reida's room and knocked on the door. There was no response for nearly three full minutes, but, just as Paul was about to turn around and leave, the door cracked open to reveal a panting Reida wearing little more than a silken robe that clung to her voluptuous body...
Though he would ordinarily be captivated by such a sight, Paul couldn't help narrowing his eyes as he asked, "What's going on?" in a pointed tone. He could feel the pressure in his veins immediately skyrocket, but instead of appearing angry, his expression became a cold stone mask of calm.
Seeing the sudden and rather drastic change in Paul's demeanor, a mildly incredulous look marred Reida's ruddy face as she asked, "What's gotten into you? I went through all this effort to celebrate us becoming Master and Disciple, and you're behaving&mdash;ah, I see..."
Realizing what Paul must have been thinking, a teasing smile developed across Reida's face as she asked, "Seriously? I haven't slept with anyone since you unceremoniously got me pregnant. Why would I invite another man over when I'm waiting for your stupid ass to arrive...?"
Feeling a bit of warmth flow into his cheeks, Paul honestly had no idea how to respond to Reida's words. Fortunately, she seemed more amused than upset by his behavior, promptly pulling him into the room and kissing his lips until they were a little swollen. Then, despite him insisting it wasn't necessary, she walked him through checking every inch of her room, even a few secret compartments, to confirm there was no one else present...
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"What the heck happened to you? You look like a zombie..."
Seeing Paul emerge from Reida's room, alongside the Water God herself, Xinyan couldn't help commenting upon seeing the dark circles around his eyes. In response, Paul just forced a smile while Reida openly admitted, "This oversized idiot thought I snuck another man into my room last night, so I-"
"Reida..."
Though he had no authority over the woman, Paul interrupted Reida with a soft yet forceful tone and a silent plea in his eyes. She crossed her arms and frowned deeply in response but, upon casting her cerulean gaze over the other women present, promptly decided against embarrassing him too much.&nbsp;
Snorting through her nose, Reida muttered, "Whatever..." before adopting a serious expression and saying, "Paul told me you girls intend to join the Citadel. Under normal circumstances, that would be impossible without a Noble background or a referral. However, since you're apparently a bunch of Saints, I've decided to bend the rules a bit. So long as you're willing to assist in the training of other Disciples, you're free to stay in the instructor housing area. Just remember, so long as you're within the confines of the Citadel, your beloved little Master belongs to me..."
In a blatant attempt to assert dominance, Reida pulled Paul close to her and adopted a taunting smile as she wrapped her arms around his neck and attempted to kiss him.&nbsp;
Unfortunately, while he might be willing to play the part of simple Party members for the sake of Reida's reputation, Paul wasn't going to tolerate her behaving selfishly and trying to show off in front of the other girls. As she moved in for a kiss, Paul pressed his forehead to Reida's, saying, "Not cool..." in a disproving tone.
Furrowing her brows, Reida countered, "I only have you for five months. Can't I be a little selfish before you go galavanting around the world...?"
Instead of waiting for Paul's response, Reida released her hold on his neck, muttering her usual, "Whatever..." before looking towards Ei and saying, "This fool standing behind me claimed you have what it takes to defeat me in a battle. Once we reach my private training grounds, I intend to confirm whether or not his words are pure bluster. Prepare yourself."
Narrowing her eyes, the overwhelmingly dignified aura Ei usually kept in check surged outward with physical force as she straightened her back, raised her chin, and replied, "Very well." in a frightfully calm tone. As she did, goosebumps spread across the entirety of Reida's body as her hand instinctually moved to the hilt of her sword. At the same time, every single person within the Citadel of Reida, be they Kings or simple Beginners, felt as though they had a blade pressed to their throats...
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Though it had fallen into a state of disrepair after more than 400 years of disuse, a massive, underground city existed beneath the streets of Ars. It was built to be the last bastion of humanity, a nearly impregnable fortress where Magic, the trump card of Laplace, could not be used.
Since humanity had lost most of its territory at the time, much of the Ars Undercity had been dedicated to agriculture and food production. There were massive pools where fish and other aquatic creatures were farmed, and, to compensate for the lack of natural light, the vast majority of plant life consisted of fungi, algae, and a rare form of bioluminescent moss that had now spread throughout the entirety of the underground structure. As a result, walking through the otherwise dark caverns was like meandering through a sea of greenish-blue stars.
With Reida leading the way, Paul and Party eventually found themselves in a massive cavern whose ceiling was nearly 70m from the ground. What appeared to be the ruins of a fortress dominated one side of the stadium-sized cavity, but the thing that stood out most prominently were the tens of thousands of bones, swords, spears, and other armaments littering the ground.
Answering the question on everyone's minds, Reida explained, "This was one of the defensive lines humanity established back during the Laplace Campaign. If you go beyond that fortress, there's a stupidly long tunnel that eventually opens up into a residential area that once housed nearly half of the surviving humans. I honestly have no idea how we were able to push the Demon Army back when they had pretty much monopolized the entire world's land and resources..."
Shaking her head, Reida nipped any potential questions in the bud by stating, "Whatever, it doesn't really matter. The strong create history, not write it. Let chroniclers with nothing better to do worry about things like that. Now, then..."
Directing her gaze to Ei, Reida's cerulean blue eyes glistened due to the effects of Touki as she stated, "Come at me with everything you've got. If you don't, don't blame me if you lose your life..."
Though she had grown accustomed to standing in Paul's shadow, allowing him to shine as brightly as he pleased, the current Ei radiated an aura that seemed to place her at the center of all things as she coldly replied, "Very well." in a spine-chilling monotone.
Without even waiting for Paul and the others to back away, Reida abruptly leaped backward, a flurry of azure arcs flashing in front of her body as Ei appeared like a phantom in pursuit. As their swords clashed, a suffocating pressure immediately permeated the interior of the cavern as a sensation akin to being immersed in ice water assailed everyone present.
Despite the 70m distance from floor to ceiling, Reida's leap allowed her to flip upside down and stand on it as if it were the ground. Then, in the brief period where Ei was still mid-air, she flipped her sword into a reverse grip and unleashed a pulse of Touki that gave the impression it could slice just by staring at her.
"Reverse Flow - Swallow's Cry...!"
Though Reida hadn't actually shouted out the name of her technique, a strange 'echo' sounded within the minds of everyone present as her body appeared to blue-shift into the form of a sparrow descending toward the ground. Her descent brought her on a crash course with Ei, but instead of impacting or passing through her, a veritable pillar of purple light erupted from the Archon's body to form a giant crescent more than twenty meters in diameter. The sparrow's rightmost wing was immediately severed as a cut with perfectly smooth edges appeared wherever the arc passed.
Impacting the ground, a vexed expression marred Reida's face as she was forced to take a knee. Nearly a third of her adamantine-infused sword had been severed cleanly, but the thing that angered her more than anything was the knowledge that Ei had held back.
"You...arrogant..."
Interrupting Reida's hate-filled growl, Ei, in complete defiance of gravity, stood casually on the ceiling as she coldly remarked, "Arrogance is acting brashly despite a lack of skill. What I have given you here is a glimpse into eternity. Now then, shall we continue, or have you given up...?"
Hearing the words 'give up,' a vein appeared near Reida's left temple as she pulled out the Electro Vision nestled between her breasts. As she did, the color of her irises abruptly shifted from cerulean blue to Electro purple as a predominately blue and white sword materialized in her right hand. At the same time, a visible blue aura began exuding from her body, the ends of her hair becoming noticeably sharper as her furious expression became an intensely focused look.
Demonstrating a rare bout of haughtiness, Ei issued a throaty, "Hoooo...?" before brandishing her sword as if she were trying to remove blood. Then, with a faintly condescending smile on her face, she monotonously mused, "It seems your title as 'God' is not completely without merit..."
No longer simply testing Ei's abilities, Reida continued to refine her focus in silence. The essence of the Water God Style was using your opponent's speed and power against them, so, now that she understood Ei wasn't an opponent she could 'play' with, Reida was completely serious.
"Water Style Secret Art - Deprivation Sword Kingdom...!"
With what appeared to be a single swipe of Reida's sword, a 'bubble' of pale blue energy erupted out to form a gradually expanding hemisphere nearly 10m in diameter. From the perspective of Paul and the rest, even with the former's incredible kinetic vision, Reida's right arm appeared to completely disappear as the right side of her body blurred and distorted like a warped photograph.
Undaunted by the technique that had earned Reida the title of Water God, Ei narrowed her eyes as tiny arcs of Electro Energy emitted from the soles of her feet. She had been manipulating her body's internal magnetism to react with the iron and other minerals in the ceiling, so the moment she turned it off, she began freefalling towards the expanding hemisphere of Reida's Deprivation Sword Kingdom.
Instead of waiting for Ei to reach her, Reida leaped upward with enough force to make her trousers erupt around the thighs and leave two sizeable craters in the rocky terrain. The diameter of her Sword Kingdom retracted to less than half its previous size, but instead of a hemisphere, it formed a kind of tear shape as Reida ascended toward Ei at a speed the naked eye couldn't follow.
Similar to when Reida had performed her Reverse Flow - Swallow's Cry, the trajectory of her attack brought her on a collision course with Ei. This time, however, both women appeared to freeze in place the moment Ei's body overlapped with the edge of Reida's Deprivation Sword Kingdom. It was like time had stopped for a period lasting several seconds. In reality, less than a centisecond had passed before a cross-shaped flash of purple lightning sent Reida crashing into the ground with enough force to embed her, face-down, into the surface.
As Paul, at the very least, struggled to comprehend what had transpired, Ei landed on the ground with the finesse of a feather touching a stagnant pond as she remarked, "While impressive, the weakness of that technique is that, once launched, the angles you can attack from are limited by your arm's range of motion. Had you executed it at the moment of my attack, I may not have been able to break it with such ease..."
Though her words gave off the impression of a skilled senior talking down to an inexperienced junior, Ei was honestly impressed by Reida's attack. It could hardly be called a papercut, but Reida had managed to leave a tiny laceration along her left wrist. Had she misjudged the range and speed of Reida's counter, she might have lost her hand...
Demonstrating super-human perseverance and willpower, Reida raised herself from the ground to reveal a vicious, blood-stained smile. One of her top teeth was missing, but the excitement of having found a powerful opponent transcended any pain she was feeling.
Earning a narrowed gaze from Ei, Reida forced herself to stand as she asked, "Why...are you...acting like...this is over...?"
Just as Ei was about to point out that she could barely stand, an aura of Electro Energy suddenly erupted from Reida's body. Her Elemental Ability was similar to Paul's, allowing her to infuse Electro Energy into her sword, but her Elemental Burst was a skill Reida had named Twin-Lightning, both in reference to her twins and the fact it created an 'echo' that followed the trajectory of her attacks.
Exploding with speed comparable to a Sword Emperor, Reida unleashed a fierce flurry of blows that left Ei frowning. She could easily deflect Reida's leading attacks, but the prodigious Water God was effectively 'countering' her own attacks, reading the flow of her echoes to strike with increasingly precise timing.
Though she had initially wanted to settle things without using her powers as an Archon, Ei eventually created a bit of distance from Reida in order to summon her Musou no Hitotachi. However, the moment she did so, Reida abruptly fell face-first into the ground. Her Elemental Burst only lasted for six seconds before dissipating. It had no direct impact on her stamina, but the injuries she had sustained when Ei sent her smashing into the ground were a lot more severe than she let on.
Tasting defeat for the first time in years, a distorted smile marred Reida's face as she exhaled a laugh-like, "Fuck..." She was in intense pain, but the prospect of becoming even stronger by pitting herself against Ei made her both giddy and confused. Giddy because she had been looking for a good sparring partner and confused because she couldn't fathom how Paul had struggled to reach the level of a Saint with such a skilled swordswoman at his side...
As if summoned by her thoughts, Paul appeared next to Reida with Ganyu in tow. The latter was far more proficient with Healing Magic than he was, so he let her treat Reida's injuries as he knelt next to her and teased, "Try not to take this out on me during our training..."
Though it hurt to laugh, an amused chuckle emanated from Reida's throat as she rolled over with a bit of assistance from Paul. This made it seem as though she was laughing at Paul's remark, but the truth of the matter was that she had briefly considered informing him their training was canceled. It had been nearly a decade since she found a strong opponent she could refine her skills and techniques against, so she really didn't want to 'waste time' teaching others.
Fortunately for Paul, Reida was slowly learning to be less selfish. If not for him, her strength and physique would have continued to decline until she was little more than a bag of bones waiting to get pushed over by a young upstart. Ei was also his subordinate, retainer, or whatever the hell she and the other girls around him were, so Reida knew she would be stabbing herself in the foot if she suddenly started focusing on herself rather than helping Paul get stronger.
With her injuries healing a lot faster than she expected, Reida gave Ganyu an appraising stare as she said, "You're going to be very useful these next five months..."
Though she could detect a hint of obsessive malice in Reida's aura, Ganyu returned a characteristically gentle smile as she replied, "If it's to help my Master and his allies, I am always happy to be of service."
Adopting a now full-toothed grin, Reida was about to ask Ei for a rematch but was interrupted by Paul suggesting, "We should return to the surface and get some breakfast. I haven't eaten since yesterday afternoon, so I'm starving."
With Paul's reminder, Reida realized that she also hadn't eaten anything in the past seventeen or so hours. Her stomach promptly growled in protest, but instead of acting bashfully, she exhaled a hearty laugh...
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Though the most sensible thing would have been to say no, Paul got Reida to sweat a little by answering, "Yes." in a calm tone.
"Hoooo...?"
Turning around so he could face Paul directly, King Ansalem gave him another scrutinizing gaze as he mused, "What an interesting response. Tell me, Paul Greyrat, how might you threaten the Asura, 'my' Kingdom?"
Shaking his head, Paul elucidated, "I would not. However, just because I would not do something does not mean I'm incapable of it. If I didn't care for the people or about the means I employed, I could cause incalculable amounts of damage to the Kingdom."
"Hmmm...so you mean to say you're only a threat if you 'choose' to be...?"
Shaking his head a second time, Paul met the King's gaze directly as he answered, "No, Your Majesty. I have already made my decision. Asura is the land of my forebears, the home of my parents, friends, and countless others I wish to protect. It is not my decision whether or not I become a threat to the Kingdom..."
Understanding, or at least believing, Paul was alluding to his son, King Ansalem nodded his head in a sagely manner. Paul had a lot of secrets, but based on the investigation his men had conducted into the Milbots Region, there was no evidence to show he had any intentions against the crown. From the moment of his debut to the time of his exile, Paul's entire life had revolved around improving himself and the lives of people around him.
Recalling the reports he had received about Paul's actions in the Ranoa Magic Kingdom, a setting where he had, once again, focused on helping others, a faint yet approving smile developed across King Ansalem's face.&nbsp;
Forcing a wry smile on Paul's face, King Ansalem remarked, "It's a shame you weren't born a member of the Royal Family. Though your compassion likely wouldn't have survived your adolescence, the Kingdom would have prospered under your direction..."
Shaking his head, a weary, faintly lamenting expression marred the King's face as he compared his children to Paul. His eldest son, Prince Grabell, was a wastrel whose only natural talents included gratifying himself and ensuring the deaths of anyone who might oppose him. Not even his four-year-old brother was spared Grabell's machinations, leaving Ansalem with very few options regarding his successor...
Staring into Paul's crystal clear green eyes, King Ansalem felt as though he could see the future contained within them. Unfortunately, there would be far too much pushback if he attempted to proclaim Paul his successor. Fortunately, Paul's and Reida's union had inadvertently given him at least two additional options...
"According to reports, you stopped at the Notos Estate before coming to the Capital. Tell me, how are your children...?"
Though he would rather not say, Paul revealed, "They are of exceptional health and show tremendous promise. Aria possesses inordinate strength for her age, and Aiden had exhibited a remarkable intellect."
With a visible twinkle in his eyes, King Ansalem mused, "Not surprising, considering who their parents are..."
Looking between Paul and Reida, King Ansalem's smile broadened as he asked, "And what of the two of you? Reida has previously expressed her intention to declare you her successor. Have you accepted...?"
Though he nodded his head, Paul admitted, "While my original intent was to explore the world and accumulate experience, I've come to realize that home is what's most important. For the futures of the Asura Kingdom and all those who inhabit it, I have accepted the Water God's offer."
Seeing Reida lower her head as a sign of affirmation, an approving smile developed across King Ansalem's face. If everything went as planned, he would have Paul, his children, and the Visions serving the interests of the Asura Kingdom. He just needed to get Paul out of the Kingdom, produce a viable heir, and prevent his eldest son from having them eliminated before they could mature...
Unaware that he was following Ningguang's plan as if he had memorized her script, King Ansalem suggested, "It's not too late to travel the world, you know? The Asura Kingdom is not an isolated nation focused purely on domestic affairs. We are perpetually in need of reliable men and women to serve as foreign diplomats, envoys, or frontiersmen, individuals who can venture into other nations and delve into the most inhospitable regions to report the secrets therein."
Instead of asking for an explanation, Paul bowed his head respectfully and said, "If His Majesty wills it, I would travel to the furthest reaches of the Demon Continent." These were words he had rehearsed dozens of times, but he never expected the King to immediately reply, "Excellent, as that's precisely where I intend to send you. The Asura Kingdom never has enough eyes and ears in the Demon Continent. It's been several decades since a proper survey was conducted, so I've been looking for someone with the power and pedigree to investigate the area and establish contact with the thirty-six Demon Lords that govern it."
"..."
Unsurprised by Paul's silence, a chuckle emanated from the King's throat before he added, "It's a significant undertaking, I know. However, there is no better way to accumulate knowledge about the past than exploring the Demon Continent. There, people who have experienced the things you've read about still live. Go to them, accumulate their knowledge, and return a stronger and wiser man."
Since he didn't have the leeway to refuse, Paul only hesitated for a brief moment before bowing his head and stating, "Your will be done..." in a solemn tone. Exploring the Demon Continent had always been on his to-do list, but, ever since the birth of his children, it wasn't as high a priority. Now, even if he had Ganyu to transport him, it would likely take years to complete the mission His Majesty had assigned...
Believing he had seen through Paul's concerns, King Ansalem stated, "You need not set out this instant. We initially gave you until the end of the year to greet us, so you may postpone your departure until then. That ought to give you enough time to secure your status as the Water God's successor. Just try not to venture too far from the Citadel. Our son rarely leaves the protection of the Silver Palace, but the influence of his affiliates extends far beyond. You have our blessing to defend yourself, but even we cannot protect you if you take things too far..."
Walking up to Paul, King Ansalem astonished him by abruptly patting his shoulder. Then, with a mischievous yet equally serious expression on his face, he added, "If you do, ensure it can't be traced back to you. If there is anything you can learn from our son, it's that..."
Giving Paul's shoulder one final pat, King Ansalem made his way toward the exit without another word. In truth, there were innumerable things he still wished to discuss with Paul, but that could wait till later. For now, the most important thing was ensuring Paul remained loyal to the Kingdom. If he pressed too hard and tried to force the boy to reveal all of his secrets, doubt and suspicion would be seeded in his heart. Thus, at least for the time being, King Ansalem would permit Paul to act freely. After all, he still had Reida reporting to him.
When it came to extracting secrets from idealistic young men, the care and attention of mature women were without equal...
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After departing the castle and boarding a carriage bound for the Citadel, Reida waited for a few minutes before asking, "How was it? Everything go as your little fiancee envisioned...?"
Shaking his head, Paul answered, "Not exactly. At the very least, I never expected to be sent to the Demon Continent as my first assignment. We knew the King would try to get me out of the country, but this seems a little...excessive."
"Mmm...if I had to guess, he wants to keep you away from the Strife Zone. The King isn't a fool. Even if I hadn't reported to him, the Sword God and countless others would have apprised him of the situation. Destabilizing a region and laying the groundwork for a nation isn't something that can be accomplished in secret..."
Raising his brows, Paul remarked, "I'm surprised you're telling me this. I must have performed pretty well last night..."
Snorting through her nose, Reida crossed her arms in defiance, stating, "You improved a bit..." before going on to add, "You've seen what kind of man the King is. Now that you've told him about your decision to become my successor, he wouldn't care if I provided you with information. So long as you're acting in the interests of the Asura Kingdom, he'll leave you be."
"Yeah...I was honestly a little taken aback. I sure as hell wasn't expecting that advice he gave near the end..."
Though it was likely the result of them meeting in private, King Ansalem's behavior was quite a bit different from what Paul was expecting. The man had a sort of hands-off policy when it came to intervening in the affairs of the broader Nobility, so Paul had assumed he was just a lazy pervert who couldn't be bothered with proper governance. There was likely some truth to that, but it was evident there was more to the King than Paul originally believed...
Shrugging her shoulders, Reida stated, "That's how it is with Nobles in the Capital. So long as you don't leave any meaningful evidence or witnesses, you can get away with just about anything. Still, you shouldn't wander too much. Now that you're my successor, everyone is going to want a piece of you, not just my brats. I can deal with any Emperors that come looking for trouble, but you're on your own when it comes to the rest. You can't reach the top if you're constantly being protected."
"Right..."
Just as Paul was about to consider how he could possibly defeat a Water King, Reida interrupted him, adding, "Speaking of which...those lasses you have with you. You mentioned that purple-haired cow was strong enough to defeat me, but what about the rest? They any good...?"
Since Eula, Ghislaine, and even Xinyan had expressed a desire to train at the Citadel, Paul didn't hesitate to answer, "They're phenomenal. Even on the low end, every one of them can be classified as a Saint. If they make use of their Visions, they could even rival Kings..."
Narrowing her eyes, Reida's expression and tone became serious as she remarked, "If that's true, that little Party of yours possesses the strength to rival a nation. Some Kingdoms, take Shirone, for example, only possess around five Saint-Ranked individuals. The Dragon King Kingdom is one of the larger ones with around ten Saints and a single King..."
Shrugging his shoulders, Paul said, "It doesn't matter. I've said it before, but I have no intention of becoming the ruler of a nation. If it didn't mean leaving our kids, this assignment to the Demon Continent would be like a dream come true..."
Though she couldn't help thinking Paul was wasting his potential, Reida ultimately nodded her head in response to his words. Not everyone had the desire to stand at the peak and rule over others, so even though Paul clearly had the means to do so, she wasn't going to try and talk him into it.&nbsp;
As bland as it sounded, there was nothing wrong with desiring a peaceful life or simply wanting to protect your loved ones.
Deciding to steer the conversation towards a more pertinent issue, Reida asked, "So, what are you planning to do these next five months? I'd like to spend this time training you, but I guess you'll be heading back to spend time with our kids?"
As much as he would like to, Paul surprised Reida by shaking his head and saying, "I might get a little distracted with the whole Philip situation, but I intend to use these next couple of months to shore up my foundation. My strength, speed, and Touki have continued to improve, but I slacked off a little too much during my stay in the North. With you offering to train me, I would be remiss to pass on the opportunity..."
Though she frowned when Paul mentioned slacking off, a rather vicious smile developed across Reida's face when she imagined getting to train him. She had gone easy on him in the past, as he was still maturing, but now that he was her successor, she wasn't going to hold anything back. She probably couldn't turn him into a King before his departure, but she would be damned if he wasn't on the cusp.
Sending shivers up Paul's spine, the look on Reida's face became even scarier as she mused, "You and I are gonna have some fun..."
...
..
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Chapter 135: MI135: Dealings